The case against Shrien Dewani

Glynnis Underhill

9 JUN 2011, 13:02

2 min read

South African police sources say their case against British businessman Shrien Dewani is watertight due to “overwhelming evidence” that he masterminded the plot to kill his wife Anni in Cape Town in November 2010:

Among the evidence to be presented in court is closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from the Cape Grace hotel in Cape Town, showing murder-accused Dewani handing sentenced murderer Zola Tongo a small plastic bag. The cab driver will testify that there was R1 000 cash in the bag, and that is was payment for the part he played in the apparently premeditated killing. Reliable sources close to the case said the video was dated November 16, two days after Anni Dewani’s body was found in Tongo’s VW Sharan taxi in Khayelitsha, with a single bullet wound to her neck.

The police have another suspect, Monde Mbolombo, who was named in the court appearance of taxi driver Tongo, and has turned state witness. The man did not take part in the ‘fake” hijacking, but acted as a middleman, putting Tongo in contact with Mzwamadoda Qwabe, who police say was one of two gunmen hired to ambush the car.

CCTV footage of a prior meeting between Tongo and Dewani at the Cape Grace has also been recovered. Tongo has pleaded guilty to taking part in the murder plot and has been sentenced to an effective 18 years in prison, and he has agreed to testify at the trial of Dewani and the other two murder accused.

Further evidence against Dewani and alleged gunmen Qwabe and Xolile Mngeni, who is in police custody, includes a comprehensive trace on cellphone calls between the men.

At the trial in Cape Town, police say they will present damning text messages exchanged by Tongo and Dewani on the night of the murder.

Dewani’s court extradition hearing continues in London on July 18.