A witness has told the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court that he heard what sounded like an argument shortly before Anele Tembe fell to her death from a hotel in April 2021.
The evidence was presented on Monday as the formal inquest into the 22-year-old’s death resumed. The court is hearing testimony to establish the circumstances surrounding her fatal fall from the Pepperclub Hotel in Cape Town.
According to evidence reported from the proceedings, the witness lived in a nearby apartment and said he heard voices before a woman screamed words to the effect of “leave me alone” and “get away from me”. He then heard a loud bang.
The witness said he initially thought the sound may have been a gunshot. After going outside, he saw Tembe on the ground and called emergency services when he noticed signs of life.
The testimony is one part of the evidence now before the magistrate. An inquest is a fact-finding process and does not, by itself, determine criminal guilt.
Tembe died on 11 April 2021. Her death prompted a lengthy investigation and sustained public attention because she was engaged to musician Kiernan “AKA” Forbes at the time.
The court will assess witness testimony and other evidence before reaching findings on how Tembe died and whether any person may have been responsible. Evidence given by individual witnesses remains subject to the court’s assessment.
