A plea bargain involving chauffeur Zola Robert Tongo may be finalised and details disclosed when he and two others accused of murdering honeymoon tourist Anni Dewani appear in court on Monday.
Tongo, 31, of Bothasig, Mziwamadoda Qwabe, 25, of Khayelitsha and Xolile Mngeni, 23, also from Khayelitsha, were expected to appear in the Wynberg Regional Court.
They face charges of murder, kidnapping and robbery with aggravated circumstances.
During previous court appearances, it was heard that Tongo, who was behind the wheel when honeymooning couple Anni and Shrien Dewani were hijacked in Gugulethu three weeks ago, planned to turn State witness and enter into a plea agreement with the State.
Last week, Tongo’s attorney, William de Grass, said that if everything ran smoothly, the plea agreement would be finalised by today so that the court case could proceed. De Grass could not be reached for comment yesterday. Qwabe’s attorney, Thabo Nogemane, said that as far as he was aware, the case would proceed.
Nogemane on Sunday met with Qwabe at the Bellville police station, where the three accused were being detained, to discuss what he should divulge during today’s proceedings and details about Qwabe’s claims that police assaulted him during his arrest last month.
“My client said police kicked and beat him up when he was arrested. I am looking into this,” Nogemane said.
He had spoken to Mngeni’s attorney, Vusi Tshabalala, as Mngeni also claimed police officers had assaulted him when he was arrested.
“Mngeni said police held a plastic bag over his head,” Nogemane said.
Tshabalala did not answer his phone yesterday.
This is how the Dewani case has unfolded:
*Honeymooners Shrien and Anni Dewani arrive in Cape Town on November 12.
* The next day, the couple are hijacked in Gugulethu while being driven around in a car by Tongo.
* Early on November 14, Anni’s body is found on the back seat of the car, abandoned in Khayelitsha.
* Two days later, on November 16, Mngeni becomes the first suspect to be arrested.
* He appears in the Wynberg Regional Court on November 18, the same day Qwabe is arrested. National Police Commissioner General Bheki Cele holds a press conference in Gugulethu where he discloses that a bullet wound to the neck killed Anni. Some items belonging to her were recovered when the suspects were arrested. Cele denies claims that Anni was sexually assaulted. He says Shrien has returned to the UK.
* Two days later, on November 20, Tongo is the third suspect arrested. That same day, a funeral service is held for Anni and her body is cremated.
* A memorial service is held for Anni in the UK on November 21.
* The next day, Qwabe and Tongo make their first court appearance together in the Wynberg Regional Court. It emerges that Tongo is plea-bargaining with the State.
* On November 27, at an identity parade, two witnesses point out the three accused.
* Two days later, all three accused appear in the dock together for the first time. Because Tongo is going ahead with the plea agreement, the case is postponed until today so that investigations may continue and the plea deal may be finalised.
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