Businessman Moses Tembe has denied contributing to Melinda Ferguson’s book – titled When Love Kills – about his late daughter Anele and her slain fiancé Kiernan “AKA” Forbes. Speaking to The South African, Manqoba Zulu (who is the Tembe family spokesperson) stated that the family did not commission the writing of the book.
“The Tembe family did not commission the writing of the book and did not contribute to it in any way. The book is therefore Melinda’s own view based on her own research,” Zulu said. He also refuted views purportedly mentioned in the book, which are said to have been made by the Durban business mogul.
“We have seen some publications referencing quotes from Mr Tembe. We categorically deny that Mr Tembe shared such views with Melinda. AKA’s family has also released a statement in which it distanced itself from Ferguson’s book.
“We are not in any way associated with Melinda Ferguson’s book. We do not endorse it; in the same breath, we distance ourselves from the contents of the book.
“When Melinda reached out to us we respectfully and rightfully declined to contribute to her book. At this state we cannot give any further comment on the book as we are unaware of its contents.”
The Forbes family also questioned the intent and timing if the book, labelling it “distasteful and opportunistic.”In a Facebook post on Thursday, 11 April, (which coincided with the third anniversary of Anele’s passing) Ferguson revealed that the book would be released this week.
She further said: “I have never worked harder on a book. I have never been more freaked out by a story. I have never kept a secret like I have this one, but the news has just been leaked on social media…So here it is from the horse’s mouth.”
Anele, who was 22 years old, died from injuries sustained in a fall from the 10th floor at the Pepper Club Hotel in Loop Street, Cape Town, on 11 April 2021. She was in the company of her fiancé and rapper AKA – real name Kiernan Forbes – who was murdered in Durban on 10 February 2023.
In 2022, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) ruled Anele’s death a suicide. However, her family refuted these findings. As a result, a decision was made, following AKA’s murder, to refer the matter to the Inquest Court.
Speaking to SABC News reporter Chriselda Lewis in an interview last week, Tembe lambasted the NPA in the Western Cape for the many delays in the inquest. He shared that the matter was scheduled to started in October last year, but there have been many postponements. It was later scheduled to start on 15 April.
“I’d even dare say, this blame squarely belongs to those individuals in Cape Town. I think it’s high time we do not blanket issues and say NPA is this, NPA is that. We need to be focusing on the individuals. Those individuals have not done their job well,” Anele’s father said.
Tembe also said their legal representatives have not given them reasons for the delays. He, however, revealed that during their last session, AKA’s lawyers were making objections.