23 November,2010 08:00 AM IST | | Agencies
The taxi driver who was behind the wheel when a British man and his wife were carjacked in Cape Town has been named as one of the three suspects in her murder.
Zola Tongo (31), appeared in court yesterday morning together with one other man, 25-year-old Mziwamadoda Qwabe.
Both are charged with murder, aggravated robbery and hijacking, along with Xolile Mngeni (23), who appeared in court last week.
Prosecutors disclosed Tongo is ready to turn state witness and promised to reveal all he knows about how Anni Dewani (28), was killed in return for a suspended sentence.
It has been suggested that her death may have been organised as a planned hit rather than a random carjacking.
Local media claim that police believe Tongo made a phone call to a friend as he drove the Dewanis back to their Cape Town hotel from dinner on November 13.
According to Shrien Dewani, his wife said she had wanted to see the "real Africa" and they asked him to detour via the township of Guguletu.
Rendevous point
Tongo allegedly called his friend to tell him what the couple were planning and where in the township they were planning to go.
The couple were ambushed by two armed men as they stopped at a junction and Tongo was forced out of the car.
Dewani said a gun was placed to his head and he was pushed out of a window around half an hour later.
Swedish-born Anni Dewani's body was found some seven hours later on the back seat of the abandoned car. She had been shot in the neck.
Shrien Dewani, a businessman from Bristol, said he had booked Tongo through his secretary and he had met them at the city's airport.
"This is a very bad situation and I am in fear of my life. I did not do it. I have done nothing wrong," he was quoted as saying.
Prosecutor Rodney de Kock told the court that Tongo, who is a South African from Cape Town, is likely to enter into a plea bargain.
"Discussions are taking place as to any admissions the accused number three (Tongo) may wish to make," De Kock told the Wynberg Magistrates' Court in Cape Town.
"Should these discussions be successful, then accused number three will enter into a plea bargain with the State."
All three men who have been arrested in connection with the attack are being held in police custody and will appear in court again next Monday.
The latest development comes as Shrien Dewani reportedly prepares to return to Cape Town to identify his attackers.
South Africa's chief of police General Bheki Cele previously said that neither Dewani, nor Tongo, were suspects in the case.
