Anele Tembe’s Family Breaks Silence on Inquest Into Her Death As 8 Witnesses Testify

• The Tembe family broke their silence after the first day of the AKA inquest resumed at the Cape Town Magistrates' Court this week
• Eight witnesses took the stand, giving evidence about events inside and around the Pepperclub Hotel on the morning Anele Tembe died
• AKA's father, Tony Forbes, withdrew as a witness at the last minute, while Moses Tembe is not expected to attend in person

The family of Anele Tembe has spoken out following the resumption of the inquest into her death, saying they welcome the legal proceedings but will not comment on the evidence being heard in court.

The inquest was held at the Cape Town Magistrates' Court, with eight witnesses having taken the stand this week. Their testimony centres on what unfolded inside and around the Pepperclub Hotel on the morning of Tembe's death in April 2021. Tembe fell from the hotel's 10th floor while she was with her fiancé, rapper Kiernan "AKA" Forbes.

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Tembe family speaks through spokesperson

Manqoba Zungu, the family's spokesperson, confirmed that the Tembes had listened carefully to testimony from SAPS and other witnesses but had chosen to hold back from making any public statements on the content of the proceedings.

Zungu also confirmed that Tembe's father, Moses, is not expected to travel to Cape Town at this stage, though he remains informed through representatives present at the court.

"I was with Mr Tembe earlier on, and there is no indication of him going to Cape Town. Should the need arise to attend in person, he will do so," he added.

The Tembe family is being represented in court by a lawyer whose identity has been withheld on the court's instruction.

Tony Forbes withdraws as witness

On the Forbes side, AKA's father, Tony Forbes, had been listed as an expected witness on behalf of his family and his late son but pulled out at the last minute without public explanation. AKA was shot and killed in Durban in February 2023, meaning he never faced the proceedings himself.

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Both families have largely stayed away from the media glare as the inquest hears what happened in those crucial hours at the Pepperclub Hotel.

Anele Tembe inquest postponed again

Briefly News reported that the inquest into the death of 22-year-old Anele Tembe was postponed again to 19 October at the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court.

The court explained the reason for the second delay, with the first one due to a magistrate's medical emergency.

Source: Briefly News