JOHANNESBURG — It was a murder that seemed to confirm every South African horror story. Newlywed Anni Dewani, a Swedish-born engineering graduate, was hijacked in a taxi with her British husband near Cape Town last month and was found in a taxi the next day, shot dead.
But on Tuesday, Cape Town prosecutors turned the story on its head. Prosecutor Rodney De Kock alleged that the husband, Shrien Dewani, paid two hit men about $2,200 to kill his wife, plotting the murder with taxi driver Zola Tongo, 31.
De Kock made the charge in court as Tongo’s guilty plea in the case was accepted. Prosecutors did not comment on whether they planned to seek the extradition from Britain of Dewani, who denied the accusation through a spokesman.
Shrien Dewani, 31, of Bristol, who owns a chain of nursing homes, outlined his version of events in an interview with Britain’s Daily Mail last month. He described being thrown out of the taxi by the killers, who drove off with his 28-year-old wife.
In his admission, the driver said he picked up the couple at Cape Town airport Nov. 12 and drove them to a luxury hotel.
“After we arrived at the hotel, Shrien Dewani approached me alone and asked me if I knew anyone that could ‘have a client of his taken off the scene,’ ” Tongo’s statement said. “After some discussion with him, I understood that he wanted someone, a woman, killed.
Tongo said a friend put the driver in touch with Xolile Mngeni, 23, and Mziwamadoda Qwabe, 25, who have been charged with the killing. Tongo said he met the pair Nov. 13 to work out the details. As part of his plea bargain, Tongo will testify against Mngeni and Qwabe.
