AKA’s father Tony Forbes released WhatsApp messages from a December 2020 Durban hotel incident on Instagram as the formal inquest into Anele Tembe’s April 2021 death was delayed for a fifth time to September 2026. Image: Supplied.(Thapelo Morebudi)
AKA’s father Tony Forbes has released WhatsApp messages from a December 2020 hotel incident in Durban. He says the messages prove his late son did not murder his fiancée Anele Tembe. The Tony Forbes AKA inquest messages surfaced on Instagram ahead of the formal inquest. Furthermore, the inquest has been delayed for a fifth time and is now set for September 2026. As a result, both families face yet another postponement in a case that has dragged on for more than five years.
Tony Forbes AKA Inquest Messages: What the December 2020 Chats Show
The messages detail a December 2020 incident at a Durban hotel involving AKA and Tembe. The chats show Tembe allegedly displaying erratic behaviour and threatening to jump from the hotel. Furthermore, the messages show AKA locking himself in a separate room for his own safety. Family discussions about Tembe allegedly skipping medication and calls for security also appear in the chats. As a result, Forbes argues the messages show a young woman in crisis and a boyfriend trying to keep them both safe.
Forbes released the messages on Instagram to defend his late son’s reputation. He has consistently maintained that AKA did not harm Tembe. Furthermore, the release generated significant online sympathy for AKA. Many South Africans said the December 2020 messages support the argument that Tembe was in crisis before the April 2021 Cape Town incident. As a result, the messages have reignited a deeply divided public conversation about what happened at the Pepperclub Hotel on 11 April 2021.
The Inquest Has Been Delayed Again
The formal inquest into Anele Tembe’s death has been delayed for the fifth time. It is now set for September 2026. The inquest was most recently expected to begin at the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on 13 July 2026. Furthermore, the NPA confirmed that the inquest findings will determine how the matter proceeds legally. As a result, five years after Tembe’s death neither family has received a formal legal determination of the circumstances of her death.
What an Inquest Is and Why It Matters
An inquest is a formal legal process. It determines the cause and circumstances of a sudden or unclear death. It is not a criminal trial. No one is found guilty in an inquest. However, a magistrate can find that a death resulted from the act or omission of a specific person. The magistrate can then recommend the matter be referred to the NPA for prosecution. As a result, the Tembe inquest outcome could either close the matter or open the door to criminal charges for the first time.
AKA Cannot Defend Himself
One of the most painful dimensions of this case is that AKA cannot speak for himself. Gunmen shot and killed him outside a Durban restaurant on 24 February 2023. Seven men are on trial for his murder. Furthermore, his inability to give his own account means Forbes and family members have become the primary voices defending his character. As a result, every delay in the inquest prolongs a period of public scrutiny for a man who can no longer defend himself.
The Tembe Family’s Position
The Tembe family has consistently sought answers about Anele’s death. They welcomed every step toward a formal inquest. Furthermore, they made representations to the NPA about their belief that the initial decision not to prosecute was incorrect. The repeated delays have added to their pain. As a result, their grief has been compounded by years of legal process without resolution.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health please contact the South African Depression and Anxiety Group on 0800 456 789. The line is free and available 24 hours a day.
For more on the South African legal process visit npa.gov.za.
Editors Note The WhatsApp messages released by Tony Forbes have not been independently verified by Mzansi Today Live. No court has made a finding about the circumstances of Anele Tembe’s death. AKA was never charged with any offence related to her death and maintained his innocence until his own death in 2023. The inquest is now scheduled for September 2026. Mzansi Today Live will update this article as further information becomes available.