NPA declines to prosecute in Anele Tembe's death
The Director of Public Prosecutions in the Western Cape, Advocate Nicolette Bell, says the NPA has decided not to prosecute the death of rapper Kiernan "AKA" Forbes's late fiancé Anele Tembe.
Tembe fell to her death on the 10th floor of Pepper Club Hotel on Loop Street in Cape Town almost two years ago.
She was 22 years old.
AKA and Tembe were in a relationship at the time.
The statement comes after AKA was shot and killed in Durban on Friday evening.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila says following the incident, the matter was referred to the NPA, who in turn returned the matter to the South African Police Service for further investigation.
"Extensive investigation, performed by the South African Police Service under the guidance of the NPA, produced several expert opinions and forensic reports which enabled the NPA to make an informed decision.”
Ntabazalila says the DPP considered the merits of the matter, as well as various reports presented to her by her staff.
"After careful consideration thereof, she decided not to institute any prosecution in respect of the death of Ms. Tembe and that the matter be referred for an inquest to be held.
“During June 2022, the DPP and her prosecution team, as well as the detective in the matter, met with the deceased’s next of kin where her decision, as well as her condolences, were communicated to the family of the deceased. In the months that followed, the DPP was advised that the family of Ms Tembe wished to make representations regarding her decision to the National Director of Public Prosecutions. As a result, thereof, the inquest regarding the death of Ms Tembe was delayed pending representations to the NDPP.
He adds: "At the time of Mr. Kiernan Forbes death, the PAIA application was pending and the attorneys appearing for Ms Tembe’s family had not lodged their representations to the NDPP.”
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