‘Leave Me Alone’: Witness Testifies About Anele Tembe’s Final Moments Before Cape Town Fall
The formal inquest into the death of 22-year-old Anele Tembe has resumed in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court, with a witness describing what was allegedly heard moments before the young woman fell to her death.
The proceedings, which began more than five years after Tembe’s death, are examining the circumstances surrounding the fall and the events that preceded it.
The latest testimony has placed renewed focus on Tembe’s final moments and on questions that have remained unresolved since her death in April 2021.
According to the witness, identified during the proceedings as Steffanutto, Tembe was heard saying “leave me alone” to a male person shortly before the fall.
The witness also testified about hearing that Tembe had fallen and about administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, after she was found.
The testimony is part of the evidence being considered by the inquest and does not amount to a finding about how Tembe died or who, if anyone, may be responsible.
An inquest is a fact-finding process. It is not a criminal trial, and the court must assess the available evidence before reaching any conclusion about the circumstances and cause of death.
Tembe was engaged to rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes at the time of her death. Her death and the circumstances surrounding it have remained the subject of public interest, while her family has continued to seek clarity about what happened.
Proceedings Resume After Delay
The return to court follows a postponement in July after the presiding officer became ill.
The resumption means witnesses and other evidence can again be considered in a formal setting, with the court expected to work through testimony and material gathered during the investigation.
The evidence expected to be relevant includes witness statements, police and forensic material, CCTV footage and cellphone records.
Each piece of evidence will have to be considered alongside the rest of the record rather than in isolation.
This is particularly important in an inquest, where the court must assess different accounts and determine which facts can be established from the available evidence.
The witness’s account of Tembe’s alleged final words is therefore one part of a broader inquiry.
It may be tested by questions from the legal representatives involved in the proceedings, and its significance will depend on how it fits with other evidence, including the physical scene and forensic findings.
What The Witness Told Court
The reported testimony centres on the period shortly before Tembe’s fall.
The witness said Tembe was heard asking a male person to leave her alone.
The words have attracted attention because they may provide context about the interaction taking place before the fall. However, the testimony alone does not establish who was involved, what had happened immediately beforehand or why Tembe made the statement.
The witness also described the aftermath of the fall and said CPR was administered.
Those details are being presented as evidence from the witness and must still be assessed by the court.
The account does not, on its own, resolve the disputed questions surrounding Tembe’s death.
The inquest will have to consider whether the witness was in a position to hear or observe the events accurately, how soon the witness arrived at the scene and whether the account is consistent with other evidence.
The court may also consider the timing of emergency responses, the condition of the scene and any available recordings or communications.
Questions Surrounding The Death
Tembe died after falling from a Cape Town hotel in April 2021.
The circumstances surrounding the fall have remained contested, with different accounts and questions raised over the years.
The formal inquest provides a legal process through which the available evidence can be placed on record and examined.
It is not the role of responsible reporting to treat an allegation or an individual witness’s account as a final finding.
The court must still consider the full evidence before making any determination.
The involvement of Forbes has also ensured that the matter has received sustained public attention. Forbes later died in a separate incident, but his death does not determine the evidence or outcome of the inquest into Tembe’s death.
Tembe’s family has continued to seek answers about the circumstances of her death, while the court process now offers an opportunity for the record to be examined in detail.
The family’s concerns and the evidence presented in court must be reported carefully, particularly because the proceedings involve a deceased young woman and allegations that may affect the reputations of people connected to the case.
Evidence Still To Be Considered
The court is expected to consider more than witness testimony.
Police and forensic evidence may assist in establishing the physical circumstances surrounding the fall, including the position of objects, injuries and other evidence recorded during the investigation.
CCTV footage and cellphone records may help establish movements, timings and communications before and after the incident.
The value of that evidence will depend on its quality, completeness and connection to the events being examined.
A recording may show movement but not explain what people were thinking or saying outside the range of the camera. A cellphone record may show contact between people but not necessarily the content or meaning of a conversation.
That is why the court must consider all the evidence together.
The proceedings may also examine whether the initial investigation was complete, whether relevant witnesses were interviewed and whether any evidence was lost or overlooked.
The inquest’s findings could help clarify whether Tembe’s death was accidental, whether another explanation should be considered or whether further legal steps may be justified.
At this stage, no final conclusion has been reported.
A Long-Awaited Process
The resumption of the inquest has brought the case back into public focus after years of uncertainty and speculation.
For Tembe’s family, the proceedings are not simply a public story. They concern the death of a daughter, sister and loved one whose final moments have remained the subject of unanswered questions.
The court process may be difficult for those close to her because it requires painful evidence to be revisited in detail.
It is nevertheless intended to establish facts through testimony and documentary material rather than through public speculation.
The witness’s account of Tembe’s alleged words before the fall is now part of that record.
Its importance will be determined as the evidence develops and the court hears further testimony.
The proceedings may also place different versions of the events side by side, allowing the court to assess where they agree and where they differ.
That process is necessary before any responsible conclusion can be reached.
The formal inquest does not automatically lead to criminal charges. If the evidence points to possible criminal conduct, prosecutors may consider the appropriate legal steps, but that decision would follow the evidence and the applicable law.
For now, the case remains an inquest into the circumstances of Tembe’s death.
The court is expected to continue hearing evidence as it examines what happened before, during and after the fall.
The central questions remain whether the accounts provided are supported by independent evidence, what the forensic material shows and whether the full sequence of events can be established.
As the proceedings continue, Tembe’s family will be watching for answers while the court works through the evidence that may finally shed light on the events of that April morning.
