A formal inquest into the death of 22-year-old Anele Tembe is set to begin on Monday, 13 July 2026, in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court. Tembe died five years ago after falling from the 10th floor of the Pepperclub Hotel in Cape Town on 11 April 2021. At the time, she was engaged to rapper Kiernan "AKA" Forbes. The inquest aims to examine the circumstances of her death and determine if anyone is responsible. The National Prosecuting Authority NPA previously concluded that Tembe took her own life, a finding consistently disputed by her family. Following AKA's assassination in 2024, the NPA referred the matter to an inquest. Six witnesses are expected to testify. New text messages have emerged, including an exchange between AKA and a Tembe family lawyer regarding an earlier incident where Anele allegedly threatened to jump, and another chat between Anele and Forbes where she reportedly spoke of attempting to take her own life. The Tembe family hopes these messages will prompt the NPA to investigate alleged discrepancies. Tony Forbes, AKA's father, publicly stated his son was not a murderer. Former police minister Bheki Cele had previously criticized the NPA for not enrolling the case, suggesting investigators had not ruled out murder. The ambiguity surrounding Tembe's death has led to speculation that Forbes's murder in 2024 might be linked to unresolved questions about her fall. The Tembe family views the inquest as an opportunity to find answers, believing new evidence could
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Citizen.
Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, a British-Zimbabwean man wanted in the United Kingdom for the alleged murder of his wife, Zandile, and their two daughters, Natalie 15 and Nala 5, is scheduled to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate鈥檚 Court on Monday, 13 July 2026. Tshuma was arrested last Friday in Kensington, Johannesburg, following an intelligence-driven operation by the Saps Interpol National Central Bureau, Crime Intelligence, and the Organised Crime Investigation Unit. Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe stated that the arrest was conducted swiftly to prevent Tshuma from using an unlicensed firearm to end his own life. South African authorities have received a provisional extradition request from Interpol Manchester, with the full request, including the UK case docket, expected within 40 days. Tshuma also faces charges in South Africa for illegal possession of a firearm, which investigators allege he purchased shortly after arriving in Johannesburg on 5 July. Mathe clarified that Tshuma was not flagged as a fugitive when he arrived in South Africa, as UK authorities only discovered the bodies on 6 July, after his arrival.
The race for the City of Johannesburg's mayoral position is intensifying, with ANC veteran Frank Chikane reportedly a top contender for the party's nomination. Chikane is said to be at the top of the ANC's shortlist, following internal interviews that included current Joburg mayor Dada Morero and his deputy, Loyiso Masuku. This development comes after former ANC MP Jabu Moleketi declined nomination. Party insiders suggest Chikane is seen as a unifying figure amidst factional battles. While Chikane has not commented, ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula is expected to announce the candidate on July 20. Meanwhile, the DA's Helen Zille has initiated legal action against the city's financial decisions. Zille is challenging a two-year R10.3 billion wage deal between the metro and the South African Municipal Workers Union Samwu, seeking to have it declared unlawful by the Gauteng High Court. She is also calling for the city鈥檚 2026/2027 budget to be reviewed and set aside, arguing that the municipality acted inconsistently by implementing cost-cutting measures while expanding its senior management structure with hundreds of allegedly unauthorized positions. This leadership battle and legal challenge occur amid concerns over governance and deteriorating service delivery in Johannesburg, with the National Treasury having withheld funding from several municipalities, including Joburg, due to failures in financial oversight.
The Supreme Court of Appeal SCA has invalidated the Judicial Service Commission's JSC 2021 decision to recommend Johannes Hendriks Roelofse for a permanent judicial appointment. The SCA found that the JSC failed to consider crucial issues, including Roelofse's temperament and his undisclosed debts for school fees and to the Mpumulanga Society of Advocates MSA. Roelofse, an advocate since 2003, had served as an acting judge from 2008 and was interviewed three times for a permanent position. The MSA had previously objected to his appointment, citing outstanding Bar fees, his alleged dishonesty in obtaining a letter of good standing, and a lack of judicial temperament, describing him as disruptive and abrasive. During a 2021 interview, Roelofse made a remark about it being "time" for a white man to be appointed and interrupted a commissioner. The SCA, in a ruling by Justice Tati Makgoka, overturned a Johannesburg High Court decision that had dismissed the MSA's application. Justice Makgoka stated that the high court had misconstrued facts and that Roelofse's conduct during the interview confirmed the MSA's concerns about his temperament. The SCA emphasized that judicial temperament is a central attribute for a judge and that the JSC's failure to consider this, along with the undisclosed debts, rendered its decision unlawful, invalid, and unconstitutional. The matter has been sent back to the JSC for reconsideration.