Cyril Ramaphosa Presidency rejects
Presidency rejects Gauteng premier's request for AKA state funeral.

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi on Thursday confirmed that his office had not succeeded in getting permission from the Presidency to give Kiernan "AKA" Forbes a state funeral.

Lesufi denied the request for a financial contribution. He said the province wanted to honour the rapper by draping his coffin with the South African flag and flying the flag at half-mast.

Related : WATCH: AKA's girlfriend Nadia Nakai Spotted Comforting DJ Zinhle At The Tebello 'Tibz' Memorial service

Forbes and his friend Tebello Motsoane were gunned down in Durban on Friday.

New Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi wrote to President Cyril Ramaphosa and requested permission to give slain rapper Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes a state funeral. On Thursday, Lesufi revealed his request was denied.

NO STATE FUNERAL FOR AKA

Lesufi told reporters that his letter to the Presidency did not ask permission to use state funds for AKA’s funeral. Instead, the Gauteng provincial government wanted to honour the late musician by draping his coffin with the nation’s flag and flying flags in the province at half-mast.
“We felt that there must be some form of honour for the person of his international stature, a person of his national structure, and we want to clarify it is not a financial contribution…” said Lesufi. “Even though we didn’t succeed on that front, we will continue making a hero safe.”

AKA and his friend Tebello ‘Tibz’ Motsoane were gunned down outside a restaurant on Florida Road, Durban, on Friday night. The funeral will be held on 18 February.