By Rorisang Modiba
Award-winning author, Melinda Ferguson, has responded to criticism from both the public and the couple’s families regarding her new book, When Love Kills – The Tragic Tale of AKA and Anele.
The book looks into the complicated relationship between Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and Anele Tembe, and the events leading up to their deaths.
The author said she received death threats following the backlash on social media.
Anele died after falling from the 10th floor of a hotel in Cape Town in April 2021 where she was staying with AKA. Her father suspects foul play.
Nearly two years after Anele’s death, AKA and his close friend, chef and entrepreneur Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane, were fatally shot outside a Durban restaurant in February 2023.
Ferguson’s book also explores issues like domestic violence, mental health, and the pressures of fame.
“I don’t think people understand what it is like to write a book. It takes a huge amount of effort and time. The amount of insanity in the leak of the cover of When Love Kills took me by surprise,” Melinda said, The Citizen reported.
“While I got love and support I also got tagged on social media with a lot of hate and even death threats from people saying they were coming for me. I got threats like, ‘You better get bodyguards’. I even got tagged on the Gcaba taxi page, where someone said, ‘You should take care of this woman’.
“People don’t like women who speak out, women with big mouths, but I can never be silent about what looks like injustice. It’s just not me,” she said.
Pictured above: AKA and Anele Tembe.
Image source: File
