Local rapper AKA broke his silence two weeks after his fiancée Anele ‘Nellie’ Tembe’s tragic death.
Tembe fell to her death from the tenth-floor penthouse of the Pepperclub Hotel in Cape Town on Sunday, April 11.
In a statement sent to IOL Entertainment, by the rapper's manager Pumza Nohashe, grief-stricken AKA, real name Kiernan Forbes, spoke out for the first time about the pain of losing Nellie.
“I have lost the love of my life … and every day feels like a mountain to climb. I miss Anele, so much, and I'm heartbroken at the unfulfilled life we had planned together,” AKA said.
The rapper revealed the emotional and psychological strain Tembe’s death has had on him, stating that “insinuations” have made it difficult for him to deal with his loss.
“The tragic loss of Anele has taken a great toll on me, emotionally and psychologically. Insinuations and innuendos made on my personhood have made it even more difficult to process and the strain our families have taken is unspeakable – which is why at this time I choose to retreat to honour my journey, praying that the moments of stillness may bring me closer to some clarity.
“I wish to convey my gratitude to all the people who have supported me during this difficult time in my life, my mom Lynn and dad Tony, Bab' Moses and Ndabezitha, my brother Steffan, my family (both Forbes and Tembe), my heartfelt gratitude to you all.
“To my business associates, political leaders, industry peers and elders, friends and my neighbours, thank you for rallying around me. Last but not least, to my incredibly loyal fans … your collective love and support has brought me much comfort.
“As we undergo this painful journey, I have entrusted my team to handle all of my affairs in the public domain, including all my social media platforms.
“Please respect our privacy as we go through our grieving process, and please continue to keep our families in your prayers.
At her funeral service, Nellie’s father, Moses Tembe denied rumours that she committed suicide.