Inquest into death of Anele Tembe reveals witness accounts of argument and struggle

The Cape Town Magistrate’s Court has opened an inquest into the death of Anele Tembe to determine how she died and if the death resulted from the negligence or unlawful conduct of another person. Witnesses testified on Monday regarding the moments leading up to Tembe’s fatal fall from the 10th floor of the Pepperclub Hotel in 2021.

Multiple witnesses reported hearing a heated argument between a man and a woman, followed by a woman screaming, "Leave me alone!" and "Get away from me!" One witness, Robert Stefanutto, testified that he heard wailing and a loud bang before finding Tembe on the pavement. He stated that she was alive when he found her and blinked at him before emergency services arrived.

A hotel employee testified that she received a call from Kiernan Forbes, the late rapper AKA, who requested security and stated that a woman wanted to jump from the balcony. The employee reported hearing a scream and a loud bang while still on the phone with Forbes.

Police officers testified that the hotel room was in disarray with items scattered across the floor. They reported finding blood on the bedding, towels, and a champagne bottle. One officer testified that he could smell alcohol on Forbes, who appeared composed and was not visibly distressed when police entered the room.

Forbes told police that he and Tembe had argued about pressure from her father for her to marry. He claimed that Tembe threatened to jump from the balcony, a threat he did not take seriously because of a similar previous incident in Durban. Forbes stated that he had retreated to the bathroom and called hotel security before discovering Tembe on the road below.