The State’s first witness took the stand on Wednesday in the Cape High Court as part of Xolile Mngeni’s trial. Mngeni is accussed of firing the fatal shot that killed Anni.

Just last week, Mziwamadoda Qwabe, said he was behind the wheel when a second hitman, sitting beside him (presumably Mngeni), turned round and shot Anni in the neck. He claimed he was told that businessman Shrien Dewani “wanted the wife killed” and that it had to look like a robbery.

The hitman, 27, said in his confession that he helped to hijack the couple’s taxi the fateful night Anni was murdered.

Mngeni, who is suffering from a brain tumour, yesterday pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping, robbery with aggrevating circumstances, murder and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition as delayed trial got underway.

An IOL crime writer was in court and captured the finer details of yesterday’s developments:

Wednesday’s witness has been indemnified from prosecution for conspiracy to commit murder in exchange for his testimony.

The witness was employed at a Century City hotel and met Tongo in 2007, as a contractor driver transporting hotel guests.

The day before the murder, at about 4.45pm, he said Tongo came to the hotel and asked to speak privately. “He asked if I knew any hitmen and I told him I don’t have such friends, but gave him the number of Abongile. We called Abongile. Tongo was next to me. I told him that there is a gentleman who is looking for a hitman,” the witness said.

Asked why he called Abongile, the witness said because Abongile had given him a bullet in November which he needed for a sangoma he went to see about his ill son.

The witness said Tongo spoke to Abongile at the hotel, saying he needed a hitman but could not speak over the phone. On the day of the murder, at about 10am, the witness was at home in Khayelitsha when he received a call from Abongile saying he was looking for Tongo because they were meant to meet.

Tongo later drove the witness to work for his late shift. “On the way I asked him what he needed a hitman for. He said there is a lady that needs to be killed and that it must look like a hijacking.”

He said he was the liaison between Tongo and Abongile throughout the day of the murder. At one stage Tongo’s phone was off, but he explained it was because he was at a restaurant with the couple.

“Around 8pm I received a call from Zola (Tongo) saying they were leaving the restaurant and I must inform Abongile. Before 10pm Zola said they were on their way to Gugulethu and I told Abongile,” the witness said.

He did not speak to the two men again after 10pm as he told them he was busy working. On Sunday, Abongile came to him saying he was looking for Tongo who still owed him R5 000 of the R15 000 they had agreed on for the hit. “I asked Abongile what happened but he told me not to ask any questions. ‘What needed to be done is done.’ I understood that the murder had been committed and Abongile said it was all over the news.”

The State’s case is looking pretty good so far, it’s just a pity Shrien probably won’t ever face up to what he did.

[Source: IOL]