Cape Town - Dubbed the “hijacker” in the alleged orchestration of Anni Dewani’s murder in Cape Town, Mziwamadoda Qwabe was unmarried and the father of three children at the time of the murder.
Qwabe, then 29, and from Khayelitsha, entered into a plea bargain in August 2012 and was sentenced to an effective 25 years in jail.
Court documents said he had been unemployed and occasionally helped his mother at her meat selling business.
The papers also said Qwabe’s highest level of education was a certificate in electrical engineering from the Western Province Technical College in Pinelands.
They showed Qwabe had no previous convictions.
They also indicated his remorse by pleading guilty for his role in the crime.
In the Western Cape High Court two years ago, Qwabe apologised to Anni’s father, Vinod Hindocha, and her cousin, Nishma Hindocha.
Qwabe was called as a State witness to testify against Shrien Dewani, accused of orchestrating the murder of the Swedish-born bride.
“The accused, for venal monetary gain, made common cause with the deceased’s husband to murder his bride of mere weeks, under circumstances that her murder was a grave betrayal of his recent marriage vows,” read Qwabe’s plea and sentencing agreement.
He became the second person in the case to be sentenced.
Qwabe, according to court papers, drove the car in which Anni was murdered in Khayelitsha on November 13, 2010.
He admitted he had participated in simulating a hijacking in order to have Anni killed – a crime he says he committed on orders from Dewani.
He is one of three men who have already been jailed for their part in her murder.
Zola Tongo, the first accused in the case to be convicted after entering into a plea agreement, is also likely to be called as a State witness during Dewani’s trial.
Cape Times