Anele Tembe inquest postponed again after magistrate’s medical emergency

Cape Town – The inquest into the death of Anele Tembe has been postponed once again after the presiding officer experienced a medical emergency, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed.

As reported by The South African, NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said: “It was expected to start this morning. But unfortunately, it had to be postponed as the presiding officer in the matter had to attend to a medical emergency.”

The inquest is now scheduled to resume on 7 September.

Tembe, 21, died after falling from the 10th floor of the Pepperclub Hotel in Cape Town on 11 April 2021, where she was staying with her fiancé, rapper AKA, who was murdered in Durban in 2023.

WATCH | The inquest into the death of Anele Tembe, fiancée of the late rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes, has been postponed at the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court due to a medical emergency involving the presiding magistrate. pic.twitter.com/Phr7eWlJUm

— SABC News (@SABCNews) July 13, 2026

The inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding her death and hear evidence from witnesses, forensic experts and investigators.

While an inquest cannot determine criminal guilt, a magistrate may conclude whether a criminal act or omission contributed to her death and refer the matter back to the NPA for a decision on possible prosecution.

The case has faced repeated delays, with the Tembe family previously alleging foul play and expressing frustration over the slow pace of the legal process, the report said.

Former police minister Bheki Cele also claimed last year that investigators believed Tembe had been murdered, although no one has been charged.

New text messages have emerged ahead of the Anele Tembe inquest. One exchange is between rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and a lawyer representing the Tembe family on the day of an earlier incident at the Hilton Hotel in Durban, where Anele was reportedly threatening to jump from the… pic.twitter.com/6aaRwLFP1H

— eNCA (@eNCA) July 13, 2026

According to The Citizen, the inquest, initially scheduled to run for three days, has now been extended to five days, with six witnesses expected to testify between 7 and 9 September and 15 to 16 September. The hearing is expected to re-examine the circumstances of Tembe’s death and determine whether anyone can be held legally accountable.

The publication reported that Tembe’s family had previously threatened legal action against the NPA over its 2022 decision not to prosecute anyone, maintaining that the investigation was inadequate and alleging that AKA was responsible for her death.

Speaking to eNCA on Monday, AKA’s father, Tony Forbes, expressed concern over attempts to influence public opinion ahead of the inquest.

“For me, it is very sad,” he said, adding that while the inquest is important in establishing the facts, he believes there is evidence that contradicts claims that Tembe was not suicidal.

The renewed focus on the inquest comes as the trial of seven men accused of murdering AKA and his friend, Tebello Motsoane, is due to be heard in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court from 5 October to 8 November 2026, following pre-trial proceedings scheduled for 13 August. Investigators allege the accused were paid R800,000 to carry out the killings.