In an exclusive interview with the SABC, Moses Tembe, the father of deceased Anele "Nelli" Tembe who was dating late rapper Kiernan "AKA" Forbes when she died says he suspects foul play and wanted AKA to take the stand in court.

THE INCIDENT

Anele died on 11 April 2021, after falling from the 10th floor of the Pepperclub Hotel in Cape Town. At the time of her death, she was with AKA who at the time said she had attempted suicide before. "This wasn't the first time Anele had threatened to self-harm, she had threatened to drive her car into a wall, she had to be talked down from a ledge at the Hilton hotel in Durban and she had spent some time in psychiatric care after that incident," he revealed in an interview with Thembekile Mrototo in May 2021. "There was a lot of passion in our relationship, a lot of stubbornness, emotions running high. It was an argument like many we've had before. To tell you the truth, I cannot recall what we argued about. But what I do remember is breaking down the door. And I can only imagine how scared she must have been." he said. Police opened a case of inquest. AKA has since died, after being shot outside a Durban restaurant on 10 February two years after her death.

SUSPECTING FOUL PLAY

Tembe says he suspects some foul play happened on the morning of his daughter's death. "From what we've heard as facts, she was actually recognised by or found out by some other lady in the street and so on and on, you know, unattended to. One got a sense that there could be some foul play, but one was not there," he said. However, he says AKA was never up for prosecution. "It has always been critical to have Kiernan in the box, whether as a witness or as an accused, for proper closure required that the last person who was with our daughter to take the stand." He adds that AKA was not just a boyfriend but a fiancé. "He had approached us and wanted to marry our daughter. We accepted him as a son too. I liked Kiernan, he never put his foot wrong in front of me. I liked him a lot." Tembe added that he objects to anyone saying AKA killed Anele, and wanted evidence that will help solve the case.

HEARING THE NEWS

Tembe says the day he learned of his daughter's death; he was shattering. "Having to go to church, unexpectedly, my brothers came to deliver the very sad news. It was very painful. I was quite guttered, that sinking feeling when you feel like someone's taking the guts out of your stomach." He says what was worse was hearing what transpired. "I was in Durban, so I could not be there. When we switched on the TV, to see your daughter lying there, covered in foil was quite a traumatic experience and at the time we had no details either than she had fallen. We were told she was alive for 20 minutes before she died." 

STILL IN ANGUISH

He says they are still feeling so much pain and anguish." I could tell you that our hearts remain so shattered into pieces. By the grace of God, our hearts are still beating." He described his daughter as lively. "Anele was quite a lively child who made friends. She was always positively disposed to good environments, she loved reading, and sport and knew what she wanted in life." Moses says Anele loved her life and respected herself. "I knew her plans. I knew how she loved herself that she would not strip naked and throw herself down."