The South African restaurant in Durban, outside where acclaimed rapper Kiernan Forbes, alias AKA, was shot dead in February, is closing down.
AKA, 35, was gunned down alongside his friend Tebello Motsoane or “Tibz“, 41, as the two were walking towards their car along one of the most popular roads in the south-eastern coastal city.
The restaurant called ‘Wish On Florida’ announced on Monday that it will close its doors on April 10, when it will also host ‘The Last Supper’.
It cited “a severe downturn in business” following the February 10 shooting.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the imminent closure of Wish On Florida effective 10th April 2023 – where we will be hosting “The Last Supper”,” the management said in a statement shared on the restaurant’s Instagram page.
“In light of the tragic event on our doorstep we have experienced a severe downturn in business which leaves the directors with no choice but to close the business permanently as the brand equity of Wish On Florida has been deeply hindered.”
The restaurant is owned by two black entrepreneurs who dedicated the last three years to building a successful black-owned business in Durban, winning Emerging Tourism Entrepreneur at the Durban Tourism Business Awards in 2022.
AKA was one of the most acclaimed artists in South Africa’s thriving hip-hop scene.
His murder was captured on security camera footage that went viral online.
In it, a man wearing a white hat is seen crossing a road and walking at pace past a parked car.
He approaches the singer from behind on the sidewalk and opens fire at close range before running away.
Police said they are following multiple leads, but everything points towards a targeted assassination.
AKA was well known for hit singles “Fela in Versace” and “All Eyes on Me.”
