Bheki Cele raises questions about death of AKA’s fiancée

Former South African Police Minister Bheki?Cele has reignited debate over the death of Anele Nelli Tembe, the late fiancée of rapper Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes, suggesting that her fall from a Cape Town hotel in 2021 may have involved foul play.

Tembe, 22, fell from the 10th floor of the Pepperclub Hotel in April 2021 while reportedly with AKA. At the time, authorities largely treated her death as a suicide, though her family disputed that finding and insisted that it warranted deeper investigation.

During a session of Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee in October?2025, Cele said investigators within the South African Police Service had repeatedly approached prosecutors, urging that the matter be formally enrolled as a potential murder case.

According to Cele, prosecutors allegedly refused, preventing a private prosecution from being pursued.

“Why was this thing not enrolled? Because it’s an obvious case,” Cele said, emphasizing the unanswered questions surrounding Tembe’s death.

While Cele did not explicitly accuse AKA of involvement, his comments have fuelled speculation and controversy. The remarks suggest that the rapper’s name is still tied to suspicions surrounding the case, despite his own murder in February 2023.

Tony Forbes, AKA’s father, responded sharply to Cele’s statements, describing them as hurtful and unfair, further asserting that his son’s reputation was being tarnished without recourse.

The Tembe family, meanwhile, has long maintained that they suspect Anele may have been pushed, not that she jumped, but the case has been plagued by delays and unfulfilled prosecutorial action.

The renewed attention highlights gaps in the investigation and raises questions about the handling of high-profile deaths, prosecutorial discretion, and political influence in sensitive cases.

Despite the controversy, no criminal charges have been brought against AKA in connection with Tembe’s death.