‘No blood money for securing Anni hitman’

Cape Town 06-08-12 -Xolile Mngeni at the High Court for the murder of Ani Dewani Picture Brenton Geach Reporter Caryn Dolley

Cape Town 06-08-12 -Xolile Mngeni at the High Court for the murder of Ani Dewani Picture Brenton Geach Reporter Caryn Dolley

Published Aug 21, 2012

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Cape Town - The middleman in the Anni Dewani murder case has testified that he had not expected to benefit from helping to source a hitman, as he would have considered such payment “blood money”.

On Monday, the witness, who may not be named for fear of intimidation, also admitted to lying in his first statement to police days after Dewani’s killing on November 13, 2010.

Monday was day three of the trial of Xolile Mngeni, who has been fingered as as the man who fired the fatal shot.

The State believes Anni’s husband, Shrien Dewani, masterminded the murder.

On Monday, the witness, who testified last week, was cross-examined by Mngeni’s legal representative, Matthews Dayimani. The witness said he had not expected any reward for putting Zola Tongo, who in December two years ago pleaded guilty to his role in Anni’s murder, in touch with a man by the name of Abongile after Tongo had asked him for a hitman.

“I call that blood money. I did not expect anything,” the witness said.

However, Dayimani said Tongo planned to testify that the witness had agreed on receiving R5 000 for helping to orchestrate the hit.

Last week it had emerged that Abongile was, in fact, Mziwamadoda Qwabe, who about two weeks ago was sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment after confessing to his role in Anni’s murder.

In his November 18, 2010 statement, the witness had said that by putting Tongo in touch with Qwabe he “did not foresee that anyone would be robbed or killed”.

However, on Monday, after Judge Robert Henney peppered him with questions and asked if he had known someone could be killed as a result of his actions, the witness replied: “I knew that, Your Worship.”

On Monday, a second witness, who also may not be named, was called to testify.

He recalled how on the evening of Anni Dewani’s murder he had let Qwabe use his car to drive him, a few of his friends and Mngeni from a tavern in Khayelitsha to Gugulethu.

The witness said Qwabe and Mngeni, who he thought planned to visit friends, were dropped off in Gugulethu about 11.45pm.

The trial continues on Tuesday.

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