The inquiry into the death of Anele Tembe has been postponed after the presiding magistrate became unavailable due to a medical emergency.
Proceedings were expected to begin at the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Monday and continue for three days. Six witnesses were due to testify during the hearing.
The matter will now be heard from 7 to 9 September and again from 15 to 16 September.
Magistrate Unavailable for Hearing
The court heard that Magistrate Vanessa Duimelaar could not preside over the inquiry because she was attending to an unavoidable medical emergency.
Legal representatives for two witnesses attended court but did not confirm the identities of the people they represented.
The State also confirmed that the Forbes family had not yet indicated whether they would have legal representation during the inquiry.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said two lawyers had previously represented the family but later withdrew.
The family must now tell the inquest secretary whether it plans to appoint new lawyers or call witnesses before the September proceedings.
Inquiry Could Influence Prosecution Decision
Tembe died on 11 April 2021 after falling from the 10th floor of the Pepperclub Hotel in Cape Town.
She was engaged to rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes, who was in the hotel room at the time of her death.
Claims surrounding the circumstances of Tembe’s death have been disputed by both the Tembe and Forbes families.
The inquiry follows an earlier decision by Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Nicolette Bell not to prosecute anyone after investigations into Tembe’s death.
Ntabazalila said the findings of the inquiry would be sent to the NPA, which could then decide whether any prosecution should follow.
He said anyone who was unhappy with an NPA decision could request the relevant certificate and consider private prosecution.
However, he stressed that the inquiry must first be allowed to run its course before any further steps are considered.
The postponed hearing is expected to continue with witness testimony when proceedings resume in September.
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