AKA’s frantic call and hotel testimony detail moments before Anele Tembe’s fall, inquest hears

According to The South African, new testimony at the Anele Tembe inquest described a frantic call from rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes to hotel staff moments before Tembe fell from the Pepperclub Hotel in Cape Town.

What witnesses told the court

The Cape Town Magistrate’s Court heard testimony on Monday, 7 September from six witnesses on the first day of the inquest. The witnesses included two police officers, hotel staff and a neighbour.

Hotel staff recall a frantic call

According to The South African, a Pepperclub employee told the court that Forbes phoned the hotel urgently and asked staff to send security after saying someone was standing on the balcony. The employee said she recognised Forbes’ voice from his previous stays, stayed on the line with him, and moments later heard a scream followed by a loud bang. A colleague then looked outside and saw Anele Tembe on the ground below.

Neighbour heard an argument

According to The South African, neighbour Robert Stefanutto told the court that he heard a man and woman arguing near the hotel that morning and that the exchange became more heated. He said he heard the woman tell someone to leave her alone and get away from her, and then heard wailing and a loud bang.

“leave me alone”

According to The South African, Stefanutto went downstairs after spotting someone on the pavement and found Tembe still alive. He told the court that while waiting for emergency services he asked her to blink if she could hear him and that she did.

Police description of the hotel room

According to The South African, two police officers who testified described the room where Forbes and Tembe had stayed as disordered. They said there appeared to be what looked like blood on the bedding, towels and around a champagne bottle. Officers also reported finding a chair and cigarette butts on the balcony.

According to The South African, one officer said Forbes told police he and Tembe had argued during the night. The officer added that Forbes did not appear physically injured but that police could smell alcohol on him.

Purpose of the inquest

According to The South African, the inquest is examining the circumstances surrounding the death of Anele Tembe, 22, who fell from the 10th floor of the Pepperclub Hotel on 11 April 2021. The court is not a criminal trial; it will consider evidence to establish the circumstances of Tembe’s death and determine whether anyone may have acted unlawfully or negligently. The inquest will hear further evidence as it continues.