Bheki Cele's alarming comments raise serious doubts about the truth behind Anele Tembe's death

Former South African Police Minister Bheki Cele recently gave a lengthy testimony to the Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations of corruption in the criminal justice system.

During his appearance, he presented evidence from his time as both police commissioner and minister.

However, it was his remarks about the death of Anele "Nellie" Tembe that struck a chord with many and have since gone viral online.

Anele Tembe, 22, died in April 2021. She was engaged to the late multi-award-winning rapper Kiernan "AKA" Forbes.

Her death was ruled a suicide after she fell from the 10th floor of the Pepperclub Hotel in Cape Town.

After her tragic death, videos and photos emerged online showing the couple engaged in a heated argument. Despite this, police investigations concluded that Tembe took her own life, a notion that some netizens have fiercely disputed, suggesting instead that it was murder.

On Thursday, October 23, Cele made a statement during his testimony that has reignited passionate discussions online. 

In a brief video clip, Cele says: "Western Cape is one of the areas, when it comes to policy, prosecution, by the way, that has been problematic. I'm sure you will hear one day that there is an inquest into the death of Moses Tembe's daughter. 

"Police did the investigation, and they believed that the daughter was murdered, they believed. They went time and again to the prosecutor for the things to be enrolled, they would say 'Go back, dot the I's and cross the T's', until they said 'If you can't do it, give us a certificate'.

"I went to the president personally, I said Mr President, your Minister of Police is going to do something funny… he is going to support the private prosecution, and the prosecutor refused go give (the) certificate. So he can't prosecute, he can't give (the certificate), so you are stuck in the middle. 

"But I know now that the magistrate that is there now is asking the question of why wasn't this thing enrolled because it is an obvious case. He should ask the prosecutor that did not enroll it, in the Western Cape."

Cele’s comments have sparked renewed interest on social media, with many netizens voicing their opinions on the matter. 

 "What a hard pill to swallow." said @nozi03. 

@beegsbvda wrote: "Which explains why AKA was also unalived. Somebody was serving justice …. And I’m not mad at that."

@Ntombenhle124 commented: "I'm glad Bheki Cele confirmed what most of thought about Anele Tembe's death. There was no suicide yok'nuka lapha, may her soul continue to rest in peace."

@DhlaminiNdhlovu commented: "In as much as we loved AKA, there was never any justice for Anele, not enough probe in those who were in the hotel and definitely AKA was let off easy, it’s the reality we now have to live with."