Anele “Nelli” Tembe’s older sister Mbali Tembe paid a heartbreaking and mouthful tribute to her loved one on 11 April, marking the third year since she died.
‘SO MUCH PAIN’: ANELE TEMBE SISTER SHARES PAINFUL TRIBUTE
Anele Tembe died in 2021 at just 22 years old after allegedly falling from the 10th floor of the five-star Pepperclub Hotel in Cape Town. Her sister Mbali took to her private Instagram account and shared that she still struggles with how her sister died.
“All I see is us emakhazeni [in the cold], the day before your funeral. I knew as your big sister, that it was a must that we bathe you [to] try and restore your dignity, and dress you in your favourite dress,” Mbali wrote on her feed.
“We were not ready for the physical cruelty that was done to you, baby girl. There was a minute we just stood there, not knowing where to start, my God, all those pre-wounds, those cigarette burns, your lip cracked open, carpet burns, all I heard in my head was you begging to stop, how much and how long did you cry and ask to stop, were you asking for Pops? When that punch landed on your face, did you fight back, or in that moment, you knew that it was over for you?” Mbali continued.
Anele was engaged to rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes at the time of her death. The Sim Dope hitmaker has since also died. He was assassinated outside Wish restaurant in Durban.
Earlier this year, TshisaLIVE reported that Moses Tembe, Anele’s father was forced to issue a statement begging people to stop accusing him and his family of being linked to AKA’s murder. Moses reportedly had no words to share about the arrests made in the slain rapper’s murder case.
“Could see the injuries before and after, I know you tried to protect yourself, fingernails, said it all. Those minutes laying in that concrete alive, naked, broken, were you crying asking for help? I do pray that abakithi bebenawe [our ancestors be with you] on that side [of the] road, sis,” Mbali penned.
“I pray to God that when your soul and spirit left your body, you were not in so much pain. After all [is] said and done, in the end, no closure, in the end, we are tormented by South Africa, after all that evil deed, the majority chooses sides, after all that pain, after you were treated like a dog, women, fathers, sisters choose status over a soul that was brutally taken,” Mbali wrote.
MORE ABOUT THE SISTER’S TRIBUTE
Last year in May, Sunday World reported that the police opened a fresh investigation into Anele Tembe’s murder. This reportedly comes after the National Prosecuting Authority declined to prosecute AKA in 2022. According to the publication, the Tembe family strongly believes that the slain rapper pushed Anele off the balcony after a viscous squabble.
It was further reported that an investigation was reopened after the Tembe family convinced the NPA that there was a possibility of foul play in the activities leading to Anele’s untimely death.
Just last month, the publication reported that a video allegedly showing Anele threatening to commit suicide at AKA’s home is allegedly part of the crucial evidence to be tested at the Cape Town magistrate’s court during the inquest hearing into her death.
“They say time heals, I am not sure that applies to us, not sure if there [will] ever come a day where each thought of you doesn’t hurt so bad. Every day I tell myself that I will see your beautiful face in my thoughts, but all I see is the state you were in after your death,” Anele’s sister wrote in her post.
“I pray and try to visualise your beautiful smile, but all I see is your broken body. God knows I try every day, but I just can’t seem to restore your beautiful face baby girl. I knew and know now that the world can be dark,” Mbali’s tribute read.
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