Anni Dewani Killer on Cusp of Freedom Ordered to Stay Behind Bars

A killer of beautiful honeymoon bride Anni Dewani who was due to walk free on 28 July was instead ordered to stay behind bars, just hours before he was due to be released.

Taxi driver Zola Tongo, 39, was given 18 years for his part in organising the brutal murder of Anni. The murder in Cape Town, which Tongo alleged was on behalf of Anni’s British husband Shrien, took place in November 2010 just days after their wedding and made international headlines.

Tongo said he had been paid R15,000 (£700) by Shrien to organise two hitmen to kill her while on a cultural visit to a township.

The parole board had decided to release Tongo half way through his sentence, but an appeal by Anni’s father Vinod Hindocha and her uncle Ashok led to a rethink. They visited him in his cell and grilled him face-to-face demanding the truth of what happened but got no satisfaction and demanded that South African authorities revoke parole.

Tongo had packed his bags and said goodbye to his cellmates, and his family had driven up to Malmesbury Prison 50 km outside of Cape Town to pick him up at dawn.

But with less than 24 hours before the prison gates were due to open for the man who masterminded the killing of bride Anni and recruited the hitmen, they banged shut again.

Swedish born Anni, 28, had been found dead with a bullet wound to the neck in Tongo’s abandoned car in a Cape Town township. Tongo claimed Shrien paid him to kill her.

Care home owner Dewani, 40, who was said to have been allowed to escape from the taxi was extradited to face trial in South Africa in 2014 but was cleared due to lack of evidence. He denied being involved in the murder of his newly wed wife and fought extradition.

The two hit men Xolile Mngeni and Mziwamadoda Qwabe also received lengthy sentences and Mngeni has since died from a brain tumour, but Tongo was the first of the trio due to receive parole.

A source close to Tongo told TimesLIVE: “He was devastated as his bags were packed and he had said his goodbyes to his friends and his family were to see him outside the next day.”

Tongo’s parole withdrawal granted in May was confirmed with correctional services regional commissioner Delekile Klass who said they would make no further comment.

Anni’s father Vinod said when news broke of Tongo’s release: “This man should be behind bars he is dangerous to society and has never told the truth and deserves to be inside.

“If you are a murderer and you know you have done something wrong naturally you will try to be nice in prison to escape the long sentence and he was pulling the wool over eyes.”

He was reported to have said today: “I am glad he is remaining locked up”.

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