Dewani Murder Trial: Driver Admits Mistake

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 30 Oktober 2014 | 23.31

The taxi driver convicted of involvement in the murder of Anni Dewani has admitted he made a mistake in his first statement by saying the killers had not told him their names.

Zola Tongo, 34, who is serving 18 years for his part in the killing, said during cross-examination in Shrien Dewani's murder trial that Mziwamadoda Qwabe introduced himself as "Spra" at their first meeting on 3 November, 2010, the day Ms Dewani was killed.

Dewani is on trial at South Africa's Western Cape High Court accused of the murder of his wife during their honeymoon.

Giving evidence, Tongo said he had saved Qwabe's name under "H" in his mobile after first meeting him at a bus stop.

But defence lawyer Francois van Zyl referred to Tongo's statement, where he said he arranged to meet Qwabe in the Khayelitsha township of Western Cape, and when he got into the car Qwabe did not give his name.

"There is a mistake made there. The mistake is that he introduced himself," Tongo replied.

Qwabe is serving a 25-year jail term for his role in the murder. Xolile Mngeni, who was serving life in jail for firing the shot that killed Anni, died in prison from a brain tumour two weeks ago.

Mr van Zyl said Tongo also told police that Mngeni did not introduce himself by name. But Tongo replied: "That was also a mistake."

Tonga was asked why, if he knew Mngeni and Qwabe's names, he referred to them as the first and second man in his statement to police on 26 November, 2010.

Tongo said they introduced themselves to him, but he could not remember their names at that stage.

Mr van Zyl emphasised the point that Tongo had been adamant in his statement that the men did not introduce themselves. "Are you saying that the police wrote incorrectly?" he said.

Tongo said it was possible.

"As time went on, I remembered their names again. There might have been a mistake there and everyone makes mistakes," Tongo said.

He also said during cross-examination that he never told middleman Monde Mbolombo that Ms Dewani was the target.

But Mr van Zyl said that contradicted Mbolombo's statement, which said Tongo mentioned a man who wanted his wife to be killed.

It also seemed to contradict Tongo's testimony that Shrien introduced his wife when Tongo picked them up at the airport when they arrived in South Africa, he said.

Hotel receptionist Mbolombo was granted immunity from prosecution in exchange for giving evidence against his accomplices.

Mr van Zyl said Tongo's predicament became worse because he saved Qwabe's name under "Spra", as shown by his mobile phone records, which have been entered as an exhibit in court.

Dewani, a businessman from Westbury-on-Trym, near Bristol, has pleaded not guilty to a number of charges including kidnap, robbery and murder of his wife.

Dewani claims the couple were hijacked as Tongo was driving them through Gugulethu township in his minibus.

While Dewani was set free, his wife was driven away. Her body was found the next morning in the abandoned minibus.

The prosecution alleges Dewani paid the men 15,000 rand (£850) to organise the hijacking.


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