Why AKA's Family Had No Lawyer at First: Tony Forbes Explains

Forbes family is following two separate proceedings

Tony Forbes says the family's decision not to hire lawyers at first was deliberate, as they follow two separate legal cases over AKA's death and Anele Tembe's.

The father of slain rapper Kiernan "AKA" Forbes says the family's decision not to appoint legal counsel at the start of two linked legal processes was deliberate. Speaking outside the Cape Town Magistrates' Court on Monday, 19 October 2026, Tony Forbes said the family is doing its best to navigate the cases that followed the deaths of his son and his son's fiancée, Anele Tembe.

Key facts

Tony Forbes attended the inquest into Tembe's death for the first time on Monday, since it began last month.
He was expected to testify but withdrew at the last minute.
Seven witnesses, including police officers and medical experts, are expected to testify over the next three days.
The murder trial over the deaths of AKA and his friend Tebello "Tibz" Motsoane is continuing separately at the Durban Magistrates' Court.

Two cases, two cities

The Forbes family is following two separate proceedings. In Durban, a murder trial is under way over the shooting deaths of AKA and Motsoane. In Cape Town, an inquest is examining how Tembe died. Tembe fell from the tenth floor of the Pepperclub Hotel in Cape Town in April 2021. An inquest is a court process to establish the cause and circumstances of a death, and does not determine criminal guilt.

EWN reported that witnesses have given conflicting accounts of the fatal fall, and that the families of both Tembe and AKA were absent at earlier sessions.

The legal counsel question

Forbes explained that the choice not to hire a lawyer at the start was a deliberate decision about resources. When there is a deceased estate, he said, it is a big decision about where money is spent. But that does not rule out hiring legal representation later, and he made clear that "it doesn't mean that we cannot get legal representation still".

What happens at an inquest

Inquests allow families, through their lawyers, to question witnesses and raise evidence. Families without legal representation can still attend and follow, but may find it harder to participate in questioning. The magistrate will eventually make findings on how the death happened and whether anyone should be held responsible, and the findings can be sent to prosecutors.

What this means for you

If you are ever involved in an inquest, you have the right to attend, and in many cases to be represented. Legal Aid South Africa can assist people who cannot afford private lawyers, depending on the circumstances.

What happens next

The Cape Town inquest continues, with seven witnesses expected over the next three days.
The Durban murder trial continues separately.
The family says it may still appoint legal representation.