President Cyril Ramaphosa has turned down a state funeral request for murdered rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes.

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

While denying the request included financial contribution, Lesufi said the province wanted to honour the rapper by draping his coffin with the South African flag and to fly the flag at half-mast makes the presidency’s approval essential.

AKA’s family announced that the star would be buried in a private provincial funeral on Saturday after a public memorial service will be held on Friday.

The rapper and long-time friend Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane were shot dead outside a restaurant in Florida Road in Durban last week.