In what could be labelled the most highly anticipated interview of the year, rapper AKA, real name Kiernan Forbes, revealed the events of the day his fiancée Anele ‘Nellie’ Tembe fell to her death at a Cape Town hotel.
AKA sat with broadcaster Thembekile Mrototo in his home in Johannesburg where he discussed his “tumultuous“ relationship with Anele and the events leading up to her tragic death.
Anele died after an incident at the Pepperclub Hotel in Cape Town where she fell from the 10th floor.
Police have opened an inquest docket to probe her death.
According to paramedics, a woman had allegedly jumped from the 10th floor of the hotel.
AKA told Thembekile that Anele had threatened to kill herself by jumping over the balcony.
“We had been having a particularly difficult week in our relationship, lots of arguments and disagreements.
“We sat down and we spoke and we started disagreeing again and things got heated.
“When things took a turn I decided that I should remove myself from the situation.
“I decided that I would book myself into another room and hopefully things will simmer down.
“I left the room but went back because I had taken her phone and we argued and then Anele had kind of threatened to kill herself, to jump off the balcony”, said AKA.
According to the star, he walked to the balcony and saw Anele’s body on the street below.
When asked what issues the couple were talking about, AKA said he did not want to bring them up but described the relationship as “tumultuous”.
“It was like any other relationship in which there were problems, insecurities.”
Speaking about images and videos that were released earlier his month in which AKA is seen punching a door down to gain access to Anele who had locked herself up, away from him. AKA said: “I know what it looks like, I understand that I need to own that, I regret and it’s not something that I am proud of but I am not an abuser.
“I would not abuse Anele, I treated her like gold.”
While the “Fela In Versace” hitmaker revealed details, he also refused to answer certain questions during the interview.
At Anele’s funeral last month, her father said that his daughter was not suicidal, nor did she take her own life.
However, he did allude to substance abuse.
“Of course we must as a matter of extreme priority deal with the scourge that bedevils our youth, alcohol and drugs,” he said.
When asked if drugs were involved in their relationship, AKA said “Have I tried drugs before? Yes I have, I can say that without question. On the part of Anele, I am not going to speak on that.”
AKA also revealed that he is not being updated on the status of the inquest police have started.
He said that his legal representatives have been asking why his ex-girlfriend and mother of his child, DJ Zinhle has been questioned by detectives who flew from Cape Town to Joburg.
Trigger warning for sensitive viewers.
Watch the full interview below:
