Tony Forbes Calls Out Bheki Cele for “Unfair” Claims Linking AKA to Anele Tembe’s Death

Tony Forbes Calls Out Bheki Cele for “Unfair” Claims Linking AKA to Anele Tembe’s Death

It’s been more than three years since Anele Tembe’s tragic death shook South Africa’s entertainment world, but for the families of both Anele and Kiernan “AKA” Forbes, the pain refuses to fade, especially after former Police Minister Bheki Cele’s latest comments reignited old wounds.

Cele, speaking before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee last week, claimed that the police had treated Tembe’s 2021 death as a murder investigation, but that prosecutors decided not to pursue it further. The remark was brief but heavy with implication. To many listeners, it suggested that AKA himself may have been a suspect in Anele’s fall from a Cape Town hotel balcony.

For Tony Forbes, Kiernan’s father, those words were more than careless, they were cruel.

Anele Tembe was killed by AKA according to Bheki Cele, which means that the father of Anele ordered a hit on AKA as a revenge, this story was long written and people didn’t believe it allegedly, what a sad story, no one deserves what happened to both of them #AdHocCommittee pic.twitter.com/05q4WaNRl0

k2 (@TalkLessers) October 24, 2025

“He’s Not Here to Defend Himself”

Speaking to eNCA, Tony Forbes didn’t mince words. “It’s very unfair. It’s hurtful,” he said, his voice calm but heavy with emotion. “Kiernan was spoken of as a murderer again. He’s not here to defend himself, and I wish the NPA could just set the record straight.”

He confirmed that the formal inquest into Anele’s death, which was delayed after Kiernan’s own murder, is still scheduled to go ahead. For the Forbes family, it represents one final chance to clear their son’s name, not just in court, but in the public eye.

“The right place for this to clear out is in the inquest,” Tony said. “We’re going to present the facts so that there is a balanced discussion, not just one-sided statements.”

A Love Story Overshadowed by Tragedy

To understand Tony’s pain, one must revisit that morning in April 2021, when 22-year-old Anele Tembe fell from the 10th floor of Cape Town’s Pepperclub Hotel. At the time, reports surfaced that she and AKA had been arguing, but the case was treated as a possible suicide.

Still, social media quickly became its own courtroom, filled with theories, finger-pointing, and speculation that neither family could escape.

Tony insists his son was no abuser or aggressor. “Two weeks before Anele died, Kiernan went and asked for her hand in marriage,” he said. “Kiernan was not an aggressive person. He would never have done that. So absolutely, he did not murder her.”

For many South Africans, that sentiment resonates. In the wake of AKA’s own assassination in Durban in 2023, there’s been a renewed empathy for how the tragedy surrounding Anele’s death unfairly followed him until his final day.

“Set the Record Straight”

What frustrates Tony most is the timing and tone of Cele’s statement. The former minister’s words, he argues, not only misrepresented the facts but also disrespected both grieving families.

He also took the opportunity to clarify another long-standing rumor, that he had “snubbed” Cele after the arrests in AKA’s murder case earlier this year. “He never came to the house, as he claimed,” Tony said. “We spoke at the airport in the morning and went our separate ways in Durban. I’m surprised the committee didn’t question that more.”

It’s an unusually blunt statement from the usually measured father, but one that reflects just how tired the family is of the narrative being twisted.

Social Media Reaction: “Let Him Rest”

Following Tony’s interview, social media lit up with frustration toward Cele. Many users accused the former minister of “weaponizing words” and disrespecting AKA’s legacy, with the hashtag #LetAKArest trending briefly on X (formerly Twitter).

One user wrote, “Every time this case is dragged up, it’s Kiernan’s name that bleeds again. Let the inquest do its job.”

Another added, “Tony Forbes is right, it’s time to let facts, not politics, speak.”

Awaiting the Inquest

The inquest into Anele Tembe’s death remains the official forum where both the Tembe and Forbes families hope the truth will finally be laid bare. It’s expected to bring clarity on what really happened that morning in 2021 and perhaps, some long-overdue closure.

For Tony Forbes, it’s not about fighting the state or defending a celebrity name. It’s about justice for two young people whose love story ended too soon.

“No one should suffer because of half-truths or assumptions,” he said quietly. “We’ve already lost Kiernan. Please, don’t make him the villain in a story he didn’t write.”