A complex mixture of cocaine, alcohol, and prescription psychiatric drugs was present in Anele Tembe’sbody when she plunged from a hotel balcony. This critical forensic data was presented during her formal death inquest on Tuesday, 20 October 2026.
The 22-year-old died on 11 April 2021 after a fatal fall from the 10th floor of Cape Town’s Pepperclub Hotel. At the time of the incident, she was sharing the room with her late fiancé, South African hip-hop artist Kiernan “AKA” Forbes.
An anonymous toxicologist told the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court that testing on Tembe’s post-mortem biological samples confirmed a history of drug and medication interactions shortly before her death.
Medical examiners detected cocaethylene in her system, which is a specific compound that only synthesises inside the human body when alcohol and cocaine are ingested concurrently. A forensic pathologist confirmed that Tembe’s blood alcohol concentration registered well above the legal limit. Investigators also identified pure cocaine along with its distinct chemical breakdown components, while laboratory screenings flagged trace elements of antidepressants, an antipsychotic, and a mood-stabilising medication.
The expert toxicologist emphasized that while these findings outline exactly what was in Tembe’s body, the data cannot establish a definitive timeline of consumption or clarify how severely impaired she was.
The court also heard testimony from a forensic pathologist regarding injuries found on Tembe’s body. While her neck exhibited specific trauma, the pathologist noted that the internal marks could have been caused by the mechanics of the 10-story fall itself. Alternatively, they could stem from external friction, compression, or suction. Notably, the exam showed no signs of strangulation or fractured neck bones.
In separate testimony, a medical doctor who physically evaluated Kiernan “AKA” Forbes following the incident reported that the musician had fresh scratches. The practitioner recorded visible marks across Forbes’s left forearm, the back of his right knee, and his neck.
The National Prosecuting Authority initially declined to pursue criminal charges after the 2021 investigation. This led to the ongoing judicial inquiry to officially determine whether Tembe’s death was a suicide, an accident, or the result of criminal negligence or foul play.
The inquest has been postponed to 17 November for additional witness testimonies.