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More than five years after Anele Tembe lost her life after falling from a Cape Town hotel, and over two years since her fiancé, award-winning rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes, was assassinated in Durban, both cases continue to dominate headlines and spark intense public debate.
While AKA is no longer alive to answer questions surrounding the final hours before Tembe’s death, a long-awaited inquest has finally begun—only to be postponed shortly after opening.
Here’s a detailed timeline of one of South Africa’s most talked-about tragedies.
The Relationship
Anele Tembe, the daughter of prominent Durban businessman Moses Tembe, began dating rapper Kiernan Forbes, popularly known as AKA, in a relationship that quickly attracted widespread public attention.
The couple frequently shared moments of their romance on social media, eventually announcing their engagement. However, behind the glamorous public image, their relationship was reportedly turbulent, with allegations of previous domestic incidents later becoming central to investigations into Tembe’s death.
April 2021: Anele Tembe Dies After Hotel Fall
On 11 April 2021, 22-year-old Anele Tembe died after falling from the tenth floor of the Pepperclub Hotel in Cape Town, where she had been staying with AKA.
The rapper had been scheduled to perform at Ayepyep Lifestyle Lounge later that day.
Her sudden death shocked the nation and immediately raised questions about what had happened inside the hotel room moments before the fall. While early reports suggested suicide, Tembe’s family consistently rejected that conclusion, insisting that more investigation was needed to uncover the truth.
The incident sparked years of speculation, with many questioning whether her death was an accident, suicide, or the result of criminal conduct.
June 2022: NPA Declines to Prosecute
More than a year after Tembe’s death, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) announced that it would not prosecute anyone in connection with the case.
The decision was met with disappointment and frustration from the Tembe family, who maintained there were unanswered questions and considered legal avenues to challenge the decision.
They continued pushing for the matter to be reopened.
February 2023: AKA and Tibz Are Murdered
Tragedy struck again on 10 February 2023 when AKA and his close friend, celebrity chef Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane, were shot and killed outside Wish Restaurant on Florida Road in Durban.
The murders sent shockwaves across South Africa, with investigators later describing the killings as a carefully planned hit.
Authorities allege the accused were paid R800,000 to carry out the assassination.
Seven suspects have since been arrested and charged with multiple offences, including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, and firearms-related charges. The accused include Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi, Lindani Zenzele Ndimande, Siyanda Eddie Myeza, Mziwethemba Harvey Gwabeni, another Lindokuhle Mkhwanazi, and brothers Siyabonga Gezani and Malusi Dave Ndimande, who were extradited from Eswatini.
AKA’s death also meant he could no longer provide his version of events regarding Anele Tembe’s final hours, prompting authorities to revisit her case through a formal inquest.
2023–2025: Calls for Answers Continue
As the years passed, public pressure mounted for the circumstances surrounding Anele Tembe’s death to be fully investigated.
In October 2025, AKA’s father, Tony Forbes, publicly defended his late son, insisting that he was not responsible for Tembe’s death.
His comments followed statements by former Police Minister Bheki Cele, who suggested investigators had not ruled out murder and criticised the NPA’s earlier decision not to prosecute.
At the same time, the murder case involving the seven men accused of killing AKA and Tibz experienced repeated delays as legal processes continued in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court.
The state has indicated it intends calling approximately 45 witnesses, with trial dates scheduled for 20 July to 21 August and 5 October to early November 2026.
July 2026: Long-Awaited Inquest Begins
On 13 July 2026, more than five years after Anele Tembe’s death, the formal inquest finally commenced at the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court.
The proceedings are expected to determine whether her death resulted from suicide, an accident, or foul play, and whether anyone can be held legally responsible.
Six witnesses were initially expected to testify during what had originally been scheduled as a three-day hearing.
New Evidence Emerges
Ahead of the hearing, previously unseen evidence surfaced, reigniting public debate.
Among the material presented were text messages reportedly exchanged between AKA and an attorney representing the Tembe family concerning an earlier incident at the Hilton Hotel, where Anele allegedly threatened to jump from a building.
Additional messages allegedly exchanged between Tembe and AKA also surfaced, with Anele reportedly referring to a previous suicide attempt and stating that if there were “a next time,” she would “do it for good.”
The Tembe family argued that these messages raised fresh concerns and called on prosecutors to investigate apparent inconsistencies between earlier statements and the newly disclosed evidence.
Tony Forbes welcomed the inquest, saying his family had waited years for the facts to be properly examined in court and expressed confidence that the proceedings would clear his son’s name.
Proceedings Postponed After Medical Emergency
Despite years of anticipation, the hearing was halted almost immediately after beginning.
The presiding magistrate reportedly suffered a medical emergency on the opening day, forcing an unexpected postponement before witness testimony could proceed.
The National Prosecuting Authority confirmed that the matter could not continue as scheduled.
Lawyers representing the Tembe family and several witnesses attended court, while representatives of the Forbes family were absent. The NPA indicated it was still uncertain whether the Forbes family intended appointing legal representatives for the proceedings.
The inquest has since been rescheduled for 7–9 September and 15–16 September 2026, extending the hearing to five days.
Public Debate Intensifies
The postponement has done little to ease public interest in the case.
In interviews following the delay, Tony Forbes reiterated his belief that Anele Tembe may have died by suicide—a position firmly rejected by her family. He also confirmed that he had shared text messages discussing her mental state with various parties over the years.
As South Africans await the resumption of the inquest, many hope the proceedings will finally provide long-awaited answers about the circumstances surrounding Anele Tembe’s death and bring some measure of closure to two families whose lives have been forever changed by tragedy.
