Tembe objects anyone who suggests AKA killed Anele

DURBAN - Speaking on the third anniversary of the death of his daughter Anele Tembe, Moses Tembe said he had affection for Anele’s fiancé AKA, dispelling suggestion that the Tembe family was involved in the murder of the rapper.

“I object to anyone who suggests Kiernan killed our daughter. I am saying we need to lead with evidence and the evidence will tell us exactly what happened,” averred Tembe, in a sit-down with the State broadcaster, SABC.

Anele fell to her death from the 10th floor of the Pepperclub Hotel in Cape Town on April 11, 2021 while in the city for the weekend with AKA, who was due to perform at the Ayepyep Lifestyle Lounge.

The ambiguity surrounding her death led people to think Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes was assassinated, with rumours swirling around that his murder was retribution for Tembe’s death, Anele’s father was pointed as one of the suspect on social media. AKA was gunned down outside a restaurant in Durban in 2023.

“It is unfortunate and, obviously, a painful experience when you hear people making those insinuations and those allegations,” said Tembe.

“People who make those allegations are faceless people, no one comes forward and says look, I have got this evidence and I am basing my allegation on these facts.”

Tembe said he first met AKA when the Run Jozi rapper performed with an orchestra, not stating which orchestra performance this was as AKA performed with a 30-piece orchestra in Pretoria first and then in Durban.

“I knew nothing about Kiernan, I am not into this type of music, but I said ‘gee-was’ if he could perform with an orchestra, he must be something,” said the businessman from Durban.

“To that point, whatever that people were saying about him, I gave him the benefit of the doubt, right up to the last day. I loved Kiernan so much.”

“For us as a family, me in particular as some kind of head of the family, I kept on saying to my children, my parents and everyone who was affected by this; it is important to treat Kiernan like our own child. That was our attitude and continues to be our attitude to this day.”