Former South African Police Minister Bheki Cele has reignited public interest in the mysterious death of Anele “Nelli” Tembe after making explosive revelations during a parliamentary hearing on Thursday. Tembe, who was only 22, tragically fell from the 10th floor of Cape Town’s Pepperclub Hotel in April 2021. At the time, she was with her fiancé, rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes, and witnesses reported that the two had been engaged in a heated argument moments before her fatal fall.
The case has long been mired in controversy, confusion, and allegations of cover-ups. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) ruled in 2022 that Tembe’s death was a suicide, a decision that was immediately challenged by her family. Her father, Durban businessman Moses Tembe, has consistently maintained that his daughter did not take her own life. Since then, the official inquest into her death has faced numerous postponements, with its start date—originally set for April 2024—repeatedly delayed without clear explanations.
Speaking before Parliament’s ad hoc committee on alleged police corruption, Cele dropped a bombshell when he claimed he had warned President Cyril Ramaphosa about potential “foul play” in the Tembe case even before events unfolded publicly. His statements have now stirred new questions about what he knew, and when.
“I went to the president personally,” Cele told the committee. “I said, ‘Mr President, your minister of police is going to do something funny. He’s going to support the private prosecution.’”
Bheki Cele, who was removed from his ministerial position earlier this year, expressed anger and disbelief over what he described as deliberate obstruction and delays by prosecutors handling the Tembe case. He said the prosecutorial process had been stalled by an official’s refusal to issue a certificate required for private prosecution, effectively blocking further legal action.
“The prosecutor refused to give a certificate,” Bheki Cele explained. “So you can’t prosecute, and you can’t move forward. You’re stuck in the middle.”
Ex-SA police Minister Bheki Cele reveals cops think Anele Tembe was murdered
His testimony has added weight to long-standing suspicions that powerful figures may have influenced the investigation’s direction. He revealed that even the magistrate currently overseeing the inquest has started questioning why the matter was never treated as a full-fledged criminal case.
“In that inquest, the magistrate is now asking why this case was not enrolled,” Bheki Cele said pointedly. “Because it’s an obvious case. You should ask the prosecutor who decided not to enroll it in the Western Cape.”
Bheki Cele’s comments mark one of the most direct criticisms of the NPA and South African justice system in recent memory, especially concerning a case that has captivated national attention for over four years. His statements have renewed public calls for transparency and accountability from the authorities.
The saga surrounding Tembe’s death became even more complex following the shocking murder of her fiancé, AKA, who was gunned down outside a restaurant in Durban in February 2023. The killing was described by police as a well-orchestrated “assassination.” Seven suspects have since been arrested in connection with the rapper’s death, though investigations remain ongoing.
The intersection of the two tragedies—the mysterious fall of Tembe and the subsequent murder of AKA—has fueled widespread speculation and conspiracy theories on social media. Some fans believe the two cases may be linked, while others see them as separate but equally tragic events that expose deeper systemic failures in South Africa’s justice system.
For Moses Tembe, however, one thing remains clear: his daughter’s name must be cleared. In a statement issued last year, he vehemently denied any involvement in Forbes’ murder, calling the allegations “untrue and without substance.” He has since maintained a dignified silence as the legal process drags on, focusing his efforts on finding closure through lawful means.
Legal analysts say Bheki Cele’s testimony could have serious implications for both the NPA and the South African Police Service (SAPS). If his claims of interference and prosecutorial negligence are proven true, it may expose deep-seated corruption within the justice system. Human rights groups and women’s organizations have also called for renewed scrutiny of how gender-based violence and suspicious deaths involving women are handled by authorities.
As the inquest continues, South Africans remain divided between those who believe Tembe’s death was a tragic act of self-harm and those who suspect something far more sinister. What is becoming increasingly clear, however, is that the public is losing faith in the institutions meant to deliver justice.
Four years on, the story of Anele Tembe is still one of unanswered questions, legal delays, and broken trust. With Bheki Cele’s recent statements reigniting national attention, pressure is once again mounting on prosecutors to explain why the case has languished for so long—and whether justice for Anele Tembe will ever truly be served.
Source- Nehandaradio
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