/ 18 November 2010

Gugulethu murder suspect’s case postponed

The man accused of killing honeymooning tourist Anni Dewani made a brief appearance in Cape Town’s Wynberg Regional Court on Thursday.

Xolile Mngeni (26) of Khayelitsha, did not have a lawyer and the case was postponed to November 25 to allow him to get legal representation.

Dewani (28) and her husband, Shrien, were reportedly hijacked in Gugulethu on Saturday night.

Shrien was released unharmed but her body was found in the abandoned vehicle on Sunday morning.

Magistrate Jackie Redelinghuys told Mngeni that he was also being charged with robbery with aggravating circumstances.

“The state alleges in your case that you committed murder, and that the death of the victim was caused during the commission of a robbery with aggravating circumstances, or committed by a group of people acting in common purpose,” said Redelinghuys.

Visitors cautioned
Cape Town authorities on Monday called on the tourism industry to caution visitors not to enter “unfamiliar areas” of the city, especially at night.

“We are appealing to the tourism industry and the public to be vigilant around tourism safety, and to caution visitors not to enter unfamiliar areas, especially at night,” Cape Town mayoral committee member for economic development and tourism, Felicity Purchase, said in a statement issued by Cape Town Tourism (CTT).

In a separate statement, Cape Town mayor Dan Plato said he was outraged by the killing.

“I am outraged at this disgraceful, wanton act of violence. The unnecessary loss of life is a blow to all Capetonians and South Africans and we are all deeply saddened and troubled by it.

“An incident such as this tarnishes our city’s reputation as a tourist destination, and it will have a negative ripple effect which we will all feel.” – Sapa