Anele Tembe inquest resumes as witnesses give testimony in Cape Town

The inquest into the death of Anele Tembe resumed at the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court as the court continued examining the circumstances of her fatal fall from the Pepperclub Hotel in April 2021.

What the inquest is examining

The proceedings are focused on the circumstances surrounding Tembe’s fall from the 10th floor of the Pepperclub Hotel and on whether anyone can be held responsible. The National Prosecuting Authority previously decided not to prosecute anyone after investigating the matter and referred it for an inquest.

Witnesses and court orders

On Monday, six subpoenaed witnesses testified. The magistrate issued an order during proceedings that no livestreaming, filming, recording, or naming of the witnesses is allowed unless the witnesses give permission.

Key testimony reported

One witness, the second to testify that day, told the court he did not know whether Kiernan “AKA” Forbes had tried to talk Tembe down from the 10th-floor balcony. He described AKA’s demeanour after the incident as

‘fine’

and added that he had spoken to people who react differently during times like these; some cry, others sit still or are emotional.

Another line of testimony confirmed widely reported reports that the couple had argued on the night of the incident. Court testimony said that during the argument Tembe had thrown her engagement ring at AKA, prompting him to get a separate room for himself.

The final witness for the day, a hotel employee, testified that a guest had called reception asking for security because someone was on the balcony. The employee said she knew it was AKA as he had stayed at the hotel before. She testified that while she was on the phone with the late rapper she heard a scream and then a loud bang. She said she ran outside to a colleague and this was where she saw Tembe’s body. They asked security to bring a sheet to cover the body. When asked about AKA’s demeanour on the call, the witness told the court AKA sounded panicked.

Related developments noted in court

At the time of her death, Tembe was engaged to the late rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes. The report to the court also noted that AKA was later killed on February 10, 2023, on Florida Road in Durban. The rapper and a friend, celebrity chef Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane, were killed outside the Wish restaurant. Seven suspects have since been linked to that assassination and remain behind bars.

What happens next

The inquest will continue as more witnesses are expected to take the stand and the court examines available evidence to determine the circumstances of Tembe’s death and whether any person can be held responsible.