Tony Forbes has revealed that he has not been in contact with Anele Tembe’s family since her tragic death in 2021.
The father of slain rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes made the comment as public attention returned to the long-awaited inquest into Anele’s death.
Anele, who was engaged to AKA at the time, died after falling from the tenth floor of the Pepperclub Hotel in Cape Town in April 2021.
She was 22 years old.
Her death shocked South Africa and sparked years of pain, questions and public debate.
Now, five years later, the inquest is expected to test evidence around what happened in the hours before she died.
However, the process has already faced another delay.
Inquest Postponed to September
The inquest was expected to begin at the Cape Town Magistrates Court this week.
However, the matter was postponed after the presiding magistrate experienced a medical emergency.
The hearing is now set to continue in September.
That delay means both families will have to wait longer for the legal process to move forward.
For the Tembe family, the wait has already been painful.
They have long disputed the finding that Anele’s death may have been suicide.
For the Forbes family, the inquest is also important because Tony has repeatedly defended his late son.
He has said he believes the evidence will show that AKA did not murder Anele.
Tony Forbes Says Facts Must Be Tested
Tony Forbes said there was no reason for him to speak to Anele’s family outside the legal process.
According to him, the inquest is where the facts must be placed before the court.
He said decisions should be made through evidence, not public accusations.
That statement shows how deep the tension around the case remains.
Although both families have suffered major losses, they appear to be approaching the matter from very different positions.
The Tembe family wants answers about Anele’s death.
The Forbes family wants AKA’s name defended through the evidence.
As a result, the inquest is not just a legal process.
It is also an emotional moment for two families still carrying grief.
Text Messages Become Part of Debate
Tony Forbes also said he had released text messages involving Kiernan and Anele.
He said those messages showed Anele speaking about wanting to take her own life.
However, the Tembe family has long challenged the suicide finding.
That disagreement is one of the reasons the inquest matters so much.
The court will have to examine evidence, hear witnesses and decide whether anyone can be held legally responsible for Anele’s death.
Until that process happens, the public debate will remain sensitive.
It is important to remember that the inquest has not yet made a final finding.
Therefore, all claims must still be tested properly.
NPA Still Watching the Process
The National Prosecuting Authority has also made it clear that the inquest could have serious legal consequences.
If the evidence supports it, a criminal case may still become possible. That makes the September hearing even more important.
The court will not simply revisit old headlines. Instead, it will deal with evidence that could influence whether the matter ends as an inquest finding or moves into a criminal process.
The NPA has also said the Forbes family still needs to indicate whether it will appoint new legal representatives.
Their previous lawyers reportedly withdrew. Meanwhile, legal representatives for the Tembe family and two witnesses were present when the matter was postponed.
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Families Still Seeking Closure
Anele’s death remains one of the most painful stories in South African entertainment history.
It became even more complicated after AKA was murdered in Durban in February 2023.
His death reopened public debate around both tragedies.
At the time, the Tembe family expressed condolences to AKA’s family.
However, Tony Forbes now says there has been no communication since Anele’s death.
That detail shows how unresolved the pain remains.
Both families lost children.
Both families have lived with public speculation.
Both families are now tied to a legal process that may finally bring more clarity.
Public Must Allow the Court to Work
The case has often played out on social media, where many people have already formed opinions.
However, an inquest exists for a reason.
It allows evidence to be placed before a court.
It also gives witnesses a chance to speak under legal scrutiny.
That matters because public opinion cannot replace a legal finding.
Rumours, edited clips and emotional posts may influence debate, but they cannot decide responsibility.
The court must do that.
For this reason, September will be an important month for everyone who has followed the case.
A Painful Wait Continues
The postponement means closure has been delayed again.
For Anele’s family, the delay extends a five-year search for answers.
For AKA’s family, it delays the chance to defend his name through formal evidence.
For the public, it means the questions around that tragic morning in Cape Town remain unanswered.
Tony Forbes’ latest comments have now added another emotional layer to the story.
He says he has not spoken to the Tembe family since Anele’s death.
He also says the inquest must put the facts on the table.
Now, the country waits for September.
Only then can the court begin the difficult work of examining what really happened before Anele Tembe fell to her death.
Sources: EWN