The inquest has been postponed after the presiding magistrate suffered a medical emergency, with six witnesses now expected to testify in September.
By Mapaballo Borotho
The inquest into the death of Anele Tembe, the fiancée of late South African rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes, has been postponed following delays at the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court.
The hearing, which was due to begin on Monday, 13 July 2026, could not proceed because of a medical emergency involving the magistrate presiding over the matter.
The purpose of the inquest is to re-examine the circumstances surrounding Tembe’s death and determine whether anyone should be held legally responsible.
The proceedings are now scheduled to take place from 7 to 9 September and 15 to 16 September, with six witnesses expected to testify.
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Tembe died after falling from the 10th floor of the Pepperclub Hotel in Cape Town in 2021.
The events leading up to her death remain the subject of intense public interest and are expected to form a key part of the inquest.
Tembe family sought prosecution
Initially, the Tembe family wanted the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to prosecute the matter. However, the NPA declined to pursue criminal charges, citing insufficient evidence.
The family’s legal challenge against the NPA ultimately led to the inquest process.
According to evidence recently published by News24, AKA reportedly alerted a hotel receptionist that Tembe had threatened to jump from the building. The receptionist allegedly heard a scream followed by a loud thud.
The evidence forms part of the material expected to be considered during the inquest and does not, on its own, determine legal responsibility.
Tony Forbes releases WhatsApp messages
Following the publication of News24’s report on Sunday, 12 July 2026, AKA’s father, Tony Forbes, shared a series of WhatsApp messages exchanged between his son and members of the Tembe family.
The messages relate to the incident at the Hilton Hotel in 2020, during which Anele reportedly threatened to jump from the building.
In one exchange, AKA told Moses Tembe that he believed Anele was not taking her medication as prescribed and that he was considering sending her back home.
Other messages reportedly show attorney Bongani Tembe communicating with AKA after Anele allegedly threatened to take her own life at the Hilton Hotel.
“I am sorry, but when someone tells you they are going to kill themselves, what do you do? This is so painful.”
AKA murder trial
The renewed focus on Tembe’s death comes against the backdrop of AKA’s own murder in February 2023.
The rapper was fatally shot alongside his friend, Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane, outside the now-defunct Wish Restaurant on Florida Road in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.
Seven suspects accused of involvement in the murders have since been arrested.
The trial is scheduled to be heard in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Durban from 5 October to 8 November 2026, with pre-trial proceedings set to resume on 13 August 2026.
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