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Former Police Minister Bheki Cele has reignited public interest in the tragic death of Anele “Nelli” Tembe, telling a parliamentary committee that police investigators believed she was murdered. Cele testified before the ad-hoc committee investigating alleged corruption in the criminal justice system, where he revisited the 2021 case.
Cele stated that police were convinced of foul play and repeatedly attempted to have the case enrolled. He claimed prosecutors continuously sent investigators back to “dot the i’s and cross the t’s,” ultimately refusing to issue a certificate for a private prosecution. Cele informed the committee he even raised the matter with the President, expressing his intent to support a private prosecution. He confirmed an inquest is now underway, with the presiding magistrate questioning why the case was never brought to court.
AKA’s Father Responds to Testimony
In a reaction to eNCA, Tony Forbes, father of the late rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes, expressed deep hurt over Cele’s testimony. He stated the former minister’s words have unfairly painted his son as a murderer, reopening old wounds. Forbes emphasized that his son was never charged and lamented that Kiernan cannot defend himself from these allegations. He called on the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to set the record straight, calling Cele’s statements one-sided and out of context.
Forbes firmly defended his son’s character, stating there was no doubt that Kiernan was not a murderer. He highlighted that his son had asked for Anele’s hand in marriage just two weeks before her death and was not an aggressive person. He also denied Cele’s claim of being snubbed at an event, clarifying that they had travelled together and spoken amicably. Forbes expressed disappointment in the parliamentary committee for not robustly challenging what he sees as contradictions in Cele’s testimony. He believes the proper forum for this matter is the official inquest, where a balanced discussion of the facts can occur.
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