British newspapers have reported that the widower of murdered tourist Anni Dewani believes South African police are framing him as they are under political pressure to arrest a foreigner.
Xolile Mngeni, 23, of Khayelitsha, one of three men arrested in connection with the hijacking and murder, appeared in the Wynberg Regional Court on Thursday for the second time.
The newlywed couple had arrived in Cape Town the night before and the car in which they were being driven was hijacked in Gugulethu.
The Daily Mail, quoting sources in contact with Shrien Dewani, who is understood to be expected to return to Cape Town soon, said he believed police were setting him up as they were under political pressure to arrest someone from outside South Africa.
A friend of Dewani, whom the Daily Mail did not name, was quoted as saying: “We are increasingly conscious that there are some people who are definitely trying to set him up.
“It suits them because an English guy who has done this would be much less damaging to South Africa than if one of their own had done it.
“They’re all corrupt. They are all taking bribes. There is mass murder everywhere, and every time one of these guys gets caught, they try to say anything to reduce their sentence.
“The police are whispering furiously to the South African media. We understand what’s going on. There’s a lot at stake Let’s see what proof they come up with.”
Provincial police spokesman Frederick van Wyk would not comment as the case was before court.
The Daily Mail quoted Max Clifford, a British publicist hired by Dewani, as saying his client was so traumatised he had needed medical attention.
The Cape Times, told by Clifford’s London office to e-mail questions to it, complied, but had yet to receive a reply late yesterday.
The Daily Mail and media groups reported that Dewani had hired Johannesburg attorney Billy Gundelfinger to represent him. Gundelfinger did not return calls to his office.
In court, the provincial Director of Public Prosecutions, Rodney de Kock, asked magistrate Jackie Redelinghuys to postpone proceedings to Monday, when Zola Robert Tongo, 31, the driver of the car, and Mziwamadoda Qwabe, 25, of Khayelitsha, would appear with Mngeni.
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