Anele Tembe inquest: Cocaine, alcohol found in her system as AKA’s father questions ‘puzzle’
Tuesday's proceedings focused on the findings of a toxicology analysis.
The inquest into the death of Anele Tembe, the fiancée of slain rapper Kiernan "AKA" Forbes, resumed in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. Tembe tragically fell from the 10th floor of the Pepperclub Hotel in Loop Street, Cape Town, on 11 April 2021, leaving behind a puzzling mystery.
A toxicology expert provided evidence during the proceedings, revealing that Tembe's system contained cocaine alongside substances linked to antidepressants and antipsychotic medication. Moreover, the analysis detected cocaethylene, a compound formed from the combination of cocaine and alcohol, as well as norcocaine, indicative of cocaine metabolism.
Although the expert acknowledged the findings, they emphasized that the trace could not precisely pinpoint the time when the cocaine was consumed. The inquest had previously heard testimony about Forbes' physical condition in the hours following Tembe's demise, with claims of scratch marks on his body. Tony Forbes, AKA's father, expressed frustration over what he perceived as inadequate questioning of certain aspects of the evidence presented during the inquest.
Tony Forbes voiced his concerns regarding the scratch marks found on his son's body and whether Tembe had been pushed or jumped from the hotel building. He also pointed out inconsistencies in witness accounts, particularly the testimony of Lieutenant-Colonel Jeremy Philander, a chief forensic analyst. Tony maintained that there was no conclusive evidence to determine whether it was a push or a jump.
He believed the focus was too heavily placed on the distance and mechanics of the fall, while other critical aspects were insufficiently addressed during the inquest.
Reflecting on the challenges of establishing the exact circumstances surrounding Tembe's death, Tony emphasized the puzzle-like nature of the case. With neither Anele nor AKA present to provide firsthand accounts, the inquest was left to piece together the puzzle with incomplete information.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
