Anele Tembe fatal fall inquest hears witnesses

The inquest into the circumstances surrounding the fatal fall of Anele Tembe from the 10th floor of the Pepperclub Hotel began on Monday, September 7, 2026, with witnesses detailing the moments leading up to the tragedy. More than five years after her death, the Cape Town Magistrates Court heard testimony from six individuals, including hotel staff and police officers, as it seeks to establish when and how Tembe died and whether negligence or unlawful conduct contributed to her passing. Witnesses described hearing an argument, a woman screaming, and a loud bang from the hotel room before Tembe was found on the ground below. One neighbour testified to hearing what sounded like a dispute between a man and a woman, followed by shouts of "Leave me alone!" and "Get away from me!". This was reportedly followed by a wailing sound and then a loud bang, which the witness initially mistook for a car accident. Upon investigating, the neighbour saw Tembe lying on the ground and called for emergency assistance. A hotel employee told the court she was on the phone with Kiernan Forbes, identified as the late rapper AKA, shortly before Tembe's fall.