Anele Tembe Inquest Postponed After Magistrate Suffers Medical Emergency

Five years after Anele Tembe’s death, her family has been left waiting even longer for answers after the long-awaited inquest was postponed on Monday. The delay came after the magistrate presiding over the proceedings experienced a medical emergency. The matter had been scheduled to continue over three days in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Western Cape spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila confirmed the reason for the postponement.

“The court heard on [Monday] morning that it had to be postponed as the presiding officer in the matter had to attend to a medical emergency,” Ntabazalila said.

The hearing has now been rescheduled for September 7, 8, 9, 15 and 16. Six witnesses have been subpoenaed to provide evidence about the events surrounding Tembe’s death. The inquest is expected to examine the circumstances in detail once proceedings resume.

Anele Tembe Inquest To Examine Circumstances Of Her Death

Anele Tembe was 22 years old when she fell from the 10th floor of the Pepperclub Hotel in Cape Town on 11 April 2021.

She had been engaged to rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes, who was staying with her at the hotel when the incident occurred. Her death has remained the subject of public interest ever since.

In 2022, the National Prosecuting Authority decided not to pursue criminal charges against anyone in connection with the case. Instead, prosecutors referred the matter for an inquest to establish the facts surrounding her death. The Tembe family has consistently challenged that decision.

Ntabazalila previously explained why prosecutors chose that route.

“After careful consideration thereof, she decided not to institute any prosecution in respect of the death of Ms Tembe and that the matter be referred for an inquest to be held,” he said.

Anele Tembe Inquest Findings Expected To Shape Next Legal Steps

According to the NPA, the outcome of the inquest will determine what action, if any, follows. The proceedings only moved forward after Forbes was shot and killed in Durban in February 2023. Authorities have maintained that the inquest remains central to the legal process.

“It is the findings of that inquest that will determine a way forward on how this matter is being moved forward,” Ntabazalila said earlier this year.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Kidnapped Victim Rescued As Three Suspects Arrested In Ekurhuleni Police Operation

At Anele Tembe’s funeral, her father, businessman Moses Tembe, rejected claims suggesting his daughter had intended to take her own life. He strongly disputed what he described as a damaging narrative surrounding her death.

“I can’t allow an unfortunate narrative to go unchallenged,” he said at the time.

“A narrative that irks me to no end as a father, which maliciously pervades some circles, is that Anele, my daughter, was chronically suicidal or had suicidal tendencies.”

Anele Tembe Inquest Revisits New Evidence Ahead Of Hearing

Ahead of the inquest, previously unseen text messages emerged as part of renewed attention on the case. One exchange reportedly involved Forbes and a lawyer representing the Tembe family following an earlier incident at the Hilton Hotel in Durban, where Tembe allegedly threatened to jump from the building. The family argued that the messages raised fresh concerns.

They requested that the NPA investigate what they believe are inconsistencies between the lawyer’s affidavit and the content of the messages. Those issues are expected to form part of the wider scrutiny surrounding the inquest. The proceedings continue to attract significant public attention.

The postponement came a day after News24 published a visual investigation reconstructing Tembe’s final hours. The report relied on CCTV footage, incident reports, receipts and social media activity to outline the timeline leading up to her death.