Anele Tembe And AKA’s Families Stay Away As Inquest Is Postponed
The inquest into Anele Tembe’s death has been postponed to October 19 after eight witnesses testified, while the Tembe and Forbes families stayed away from the latest proceedings.
The families of Anele Tembe and late rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes did not attend the inquest into her death as proceedings resumed at the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court this week.
Forbes’ father, Tony Forbes, had initially been listed as a witness for his family and his late son but withdrew from the inquest shortly before proceedings resumed.
The Tembe family is represented by a lawyer whose identity has been withheld on the court’s instruction.
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Tembe, 22, died in April 2021 after falling from the 10th floor of the Pepperclub Hotel in Cape Town while she was with Forbes.
Eight witnesses testified this week about events inside and outside the hotel on the morning of her death.
Neighbour Describes Moments After Fall
One of the witnesses was a neighbour who was among the first people to reach the scene after Tembe fell.
He told the inquest that he knelt beside Tembe’s body and spoke to her while waiting for paramedics to arrive.
“I then told her not to be afraid, that help was on its way. I just sort of prayed to her, you know, and that seemed to calm and comfort her,” he told the court.
His evidence formed part of testimony concerning the immediate aftermath of Tembe’s fall and the conditions at the scene before emergency medical personnel arrived.
Tony Forbes Withdraws As Witness
Tony Forbes had been expected to provide evidence on behalf of the Forbes family and his late son.
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He ultimately withdrew from the proceedings at the last minute.
The Tembe family continues to participate in the inquest through legal representation, although the lawyer’s identity has been withheld in accordance with the court’s direction.
The inquest is examining the circumstances surrounding Tembe’s death and the events leading up to her fatal fall from the hotel.
Inquest Postponed To October
After eight witnesses testified this week, the proceedings were postponed to October 19, 2026, when further witnesses are expected to give evidence.
The inquest is not a criminal trial and is intended to establish the circumstances surrounding a person’s death and whether any further action may be warranted.
The evidence heard by the court remains subject to the inquest process and does not, on its own, establish criminal liability.
