Parole for man convicted of Dewani murder

The man found guilty of murdering newlywed Anni Dewani in 2010 was yesterday granted parole, SABC News reported.

Zola Tongo pleaded guilty to the murder and was sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment. He has served 11 years behind bars and became eligible to be considered for parole in 2020.

Dewani’s family met Tongo on Thursday in a victim/offender dialogue, the department of correctional services spokesperson, Singabakho Nxumalo, said. The family reportedly tried to motivate the parole board not to release Tongo.

Dewani’s uncle Ashok Hindocha told eNCA Tongo’s release was “a shame to the justice system”.

Newlyweds Anni and Shrien Dewani, from the UK, were kidnapped at gunpoint in Gugulethu, Western Cape, on 13 November, 2010. Shrien was released unharmed and Anni’s body was found in the taxi the pair had been travelling in. She had a gunshot wound to the neck.

Tongo, a taxi driver, was arrested, along with Mziwamadoda Qwabe and Xolile Mngeni. Mngeni, who was serving a life sentence for reportedly pulling the trigger, died in 2014. Qwabe was sentenced to 25 years in 2012.

Shrien was accused of being the mastermind behind the murder. After years of fighting extradition, he appeared in the Cape Town High Court in October 2014 and was cleared of the murder due to insufficient evidence. The case was thrown out by Judge Jeanette Traverso, who said a key witness’s testimony was contradictory.

This was despite Tongo confessing Shrien paid him R15 000 to find people to kill Anni, eNCA reported.

In 2014, Shrien revealed he had found love with a male Brazilian photographer. His sexual orientation was reportedly a source of tension in his relationship with Anni.