Police have obtained a statement from a Cape Grace hotel porter they have been searching for in connection with the murder of UK honeymooner Anni Dewani.
A source says he could be the link between the taxi driver Xola Tongo who is serving an 18-year sentence for his role in the murder, and Anni’s husband, UK businessman Shrien Dewani.
Police have been searching for the man, who is from the Eastern Cape, for questioning as they believed he had crucial information that would help their case. But he went off sick, then disappeared.
On Friday Anni’s father, Vinod Hindocha, praised the country’s justice system after one of the men accused of being involved in the murder of his 28-year-old daughter was refused bail.
Standing on the stairs of Wynberg Magistrate Court, an emotional Hindocha, dressed in a black suit and accompanied by his brother Ashok, said: “I have come all the way from Sweden to see my daughter’s murderer(s).”
He thanked South Africans and the authorities for their support. He was “very pleased” with the way the case had been handled. In a court packed with media and curious members of the public, Magistrate Gavin du Plessis refused second accused Mziwamadoda Qwabe, 25, bail. He said the prosecution had overwhelming evidence against him.
“The State has more than a strong case against you… the seriousness of this case speaks volumes.”
He added that the international media coverage could also not be ignored.
Speaking from the UK this week, Dewani’s publicist Max Clifford said the family did not wish to comment on National Prosecuting Authority boss Menzi Simelane’s recent comments.
Simelane had said: “This case is a pure criminal matter of somebody who murdered his wife while he should be celebrating his honeymoon.”
Clifford said: “In view of (Simelane’s) and (Police Commissioner) General Bheki Cele’s comments, the family do not wish to comment on or debate the SA justice system, prosecutorial or police procedures.
“Naturally the family are upset by the unfounded attack on Shrien. This is an ongoing legal issue that will be raised in court.”
Clifford added that all the family wanted was for the whole truth to come out and that Dewani be cleared.
This week, it was reported that Dewani had attempted suicide. He reportedly took an overdose of pills at the weekend.
Although Justice Department spokesman Tlali Tlali would not confirm that Dewani had taken pills, he said the businessman had been admitted to hospital.
Clifford at the time was quoted on BBC News online as saying that Dewani was being treated at the Bristol Royal Infirmary. He, however, would not confirm reports on an alleged attempted suicide.
Dewani, 31, is accused of masterminding his wife Anni’s murder in Gugulethu on November 13 while the couple were on their two-week honeymoon last year.
One of the accused, Zola Tongo, was sentenced to 18 years in December after confessing to his part in Anni’s murder. He implicated Dewani, Qwabe and Xolile Mngeni who did not apply for bail.
Dewani, who denies the charges and is fighting extradition to South Africa, is at Westbury-on-Trym home recovering from an alleged attempted suicide this week.
South Africa applied to have his bail revoked on Thursday after the alleged 46-pill overdose but was turned down.
During Qwabe’s bail application his lawyer, Thabo Nogemane, told the court that there was no evidence that his client would evade his trial, interfere with witnesses or commit other offences if granted bail. He reasoned that Dewani was out on bail. “Why should Qwabe, similarly accused, not be... out on bail?”
Once Qwabe’s bail application was finalised he appeared alongside Mngeni in another regional court where Magistrate Jackie Redelinghuys ordered that both remain in custody until they appear together again on June 1. During the hearing the Western Cape director for Public Prosecutions Rodney de Kock, requested a postponement because of Dewani’s extradition hearing, May 3-5, which has been filed with the British authorities.
He said they also were waiting for a forensic report on DNA evidence collected in Britain to be formally handed over and the formal investigation was being finalised.
The defence attorneys Vusi Tshabalala (representing Mngeni) and Nogemane said they had co-operated with the prosecution team and they had no objection to the postponement to June 1.
However, Tshabalala said if at the next appearance the prosecution requested another postponement to finalise the investigation, they would give notice of their intention to have the case removed from the court roll.
This could result in the withdrawal of the charges.
Redelinghuys said an investigation normally took six to seven months. The men were arrested in November, and the postponement to June 1 was in line with the six-month period. (Additional reporting by Kashiefa Ajam) - Weekend Argus