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AKA: Presidency rejects state funeral for the rapper.
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South Africa president rejects state funeral bid for rapper AKA.
The president reportedly turned down a provincial government’s request for a state funeral for a well-known South African rapper, AKA, who was killed last week.
The Presidency has rejected a proposal from Guanteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s office to hold a state funeral for Kiernan “AKA” Forbes.
AKA and his friend were murdered in front of a restaurant on Florida Road in Durban.
On Tuesday, Lesufi made a visit to the Forbes family and admitted having written to President Cyril Ramaphosa in the hope that the provincial coffers will assist the family in ensuring the award-winning singer has a suitable send-off.
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According to News 24, the late rapper’s province-state funeral was requested by the office of Guanteng Premier Panyaza Lusuif, with the South African flag placed over his coffin and flown at half-mast.
This request, however, was turned down for an unexplained reason.
Clarifying his intentions, Lesufi told reporters, “We felt that a person of this international stature… there must be some form of honour and we want to clarify that it was not a financial contribution, but it was an honour of draping the coffin, ensuring the flag flies at half-mast, and ensuring that it [is] a befitting funeral. Even though we didn’t succeed on that front, we will continue in making a hero safe. We will also provide security support for the family and ensure that the family feels our support and our comfort.”
On Friday, a public tribute for the rapper will be held. On Saturday, he will be laid to rest.