I was asked if I knew a hitman: Qwabe

Mziwamadoda Qwabe testified that he received a call from Monde Mbolombo that Friday, November 12, 2010, saying someone wanted a job done.

 

"He basically said someone wanted someone to be killed," he said in answer to a question from prosecutor Adrian Mopp.

 

Qwabe was testifying for the State in the trial of Shrien Dewani, who is accused of the murder of his wife Anni during their honeymoon in Cape Town in November 2010.

 

Dewani maintains they were hijacked while being driven through Gugulethu in a shuttle bus on November 13, 2010. He was apparently forced out and the hijackers drove off with Anni. Her body was found on the back seat of the shuttle the next day.

 

The State alleges Dewani conspired with others to stage the hijacking.

 

Qwabe said he would help and that Mbolombo could forward his cellphone number to the man who wanted the job done, later identified as Zola Tongo. Tongo phoned him later in the day and confirmed a hitman job was available.

 

Qwabe was sitting at home with his friend Xolile Mngeni when he got the call and asked him if he was interested. Mngeni, whose nickname is Watti, said he would do the job for R15,000.

 

Qwabe was sentenced to 25 years in jail for his role in the crime, in terms of a plea and sentencing agreement reached in August 2012.
Mngeni is serving life for pulling the trigger of the gun, while his accomplice Tongo, who drove the shuttle bus, is serving 18 years in jail.

 

Qwabe said he and Tongo agreed to meet near a shopping centre in Khayelitsha the following day.

 

Tongo called him numerous times on Saturday morning, November 13, 2010, and explained he would be in a silver VW Sharan. They met and Qwabe got into the car.

 

"He said there was a husband who wanted his wife to be killed... It had to look like a hijacking."

 

At this point in Qwabe's testimony, Dewani pursed his lips and shook his head slowly before putting his head down to write notes.
Qwabe said he phoned Mngeni and asked where he was.

 

Tongo drove them to where Mngeni was and they all sat and spoke in the vehicle.

 

"We agreed on where the hijacking was going to happen, the corner of NY112 and NY118."

 

As they spoke, an elderly woman walked past the car and Tongo got out to speak to her.

 

The entire conversation in the car took between 20 and 30 minutes. It was agreed that nothing would happen to the husband during the hijacking and that the R15,000 would be left in the cubbyhole.

 

Mopp asked if they had discussed when the hijacking would take place.

 

Qwabe said Tongo had promised to call them when he was at the couple's hotel, which would be around 7pm or 7.30pm that evening.
There was no discussion as to how or where the wife would be killed.

 

Mopp asked if a murder weapon was chosen.

 

"I knew I had a gun and Watti also knew I had a gun. It was illegal," he said.