ONE of the alleged hitmen of 28-year-old bride Anni Dewani, who was killed in an apparent hit allegedly ordered by her husband, will again miss his court appearance tomorrow, due to illness
Xolile Mngeni, who was supposed to appear with Mziwamadoda Qwabe in the Wynberg regional court, Cape Town, for allegedly carrying out the murder, will again not make it to court.
It has been reported that Mngeni was diagnosed with a brain tumour, but his lawyer, Vusi Tshabalala, could not confirm this.
"By the look of things it is clear that he won't make it to court. I am worried about his health but his health is confidential," Tshabalala said.
Mngeni's grandmother, Zanyiwe Mngeni, has been inundated with questions about her grandson's reported illness since he failed to appear in court earlier this month.
Adding to the grandmother's woes are the escalating costs of visiting Mngeni in prison while he awaits trial.
His grandmother said the authorities had not informed her of Mngeni's illness and that he had no history of ill-health.
"He doesn't have any history of illness. I raised him and he never had anything. That's new to me," she said. "I haven't visited him in a while. I don't know what's happening."
An upset Zanyiwe said she was being "harassed by journalists" who visited her every time Mngeni was expected to appear in court.
"That's why I go mad every time journalists come here. The last time they came here, after he didn't appear in court, I wasn't at home and I'm told they took pictures of my house," she said.
The 68-year-old grandmother, who depends on a state pension, said frequent visits to Pollsmoor prison had left her out of pocket.
Newlywed Anni Dewani was on honeymoon with her husband Shrien when she was murdered in Gugulethu last November.
She was found dead with a bullet wound to the neck after her new husband reported a hijacking of their taxi. The driver of the vehicle, Zola Tongo, was arrested and told the high court in Cape Town that Dewani had asked him to hire hitmen to kill Anni.
He said he had in turn contracted Qwabe and Mngeni to carry out the hit. Tongo admitted to the crime, and is serving an 18-year sentence for his involvement in the murder.
Dewani vehemently denied Tongo's story and is fighting extradition from the UK to South Africa.
His hearing was postponed to July to allow for the compilation of a report on his mental health.
"This Xolile Mngeni matter must come to an end, whatever direction it goes. It has brought my life to a standstill," Zanyiwe said.
'Ill' Dewani suspect to miss court appearance
ONE of the alleged hitmen of 28-year-old bride Anni Dewani, who was killed in an apparent hit allegedly ordered by her husband, will again miss his court appearance tomorrow, due to illness
Xolile Mngeni, who was supposed to appear with Mziwamadoda Qwabe in the Wynberg regional court, Cape Town, for allegedly carrying out the murder, will again not make it to court.
It has been reported that Mngeni was diagnosed with a brain tumour, but his lawyer, Vusi Tshabalala, could not confirm this.
"By the look of things it is clear that he won't make it to court. I am worried about his health but his health is confidential," Tshabalala said.
Mngeni's grandmother, Zanyiwe Mngeni, has been inundated with questions about her grandson's reported illness since he failed to appear in court earlier this month.
Adding to the grandmother's woes are the escalating costs of visiting Mngeni in prison while he awaits trial.
His grandmother said the authorities had not informed her of Mngeni's illness and that he had no history of ill-health.
"He doesn't have any history of illness. I raised him and he never had anything. That's new to me," she said. "I haven't visited him in a while. I don't know what's happening."
An upset Zanyiwe said she was being "harassed by journalists" who visited her every time Mngeni was expected to appear in court.
"That's why I go mad every time journalists come here. The last time they came here, after he didn't appear in court, I wasn't at home and I'm told they took pictures of my house," she said.
The 68-year-old grandmother, who depends on a state pension, said frequent visits to Pollsmoor prison had left her out of pocket.
Newlywed Anni Dewani was on honeymoon with her husband Shrien when she was murdered in Gugulethu last November.
She was found dead with a bullet wound to the neck after her new husband reported a hijacking of their taxi. The driver of the vehicle, Zola Tongo, was arrested and told the high court in Cape Town that Dewani had asked him to hire hitmen to kill Anni.
He said he had in turn contracted Qwabe and Mngeni to carry out the hit. Tongo admitted to the crime, and is serving an 18-year sentence for his involvement in the murder.
Dewani vehemently denied Tongo's story and is fighting extradition from the UK to South Africa.
His hearing was postponed to July to allow for the compilation of a report on his mental health.
"This Xolile Mngeni matter must come to an end, whatever direction it goes. It has brought my life to a standstill," Zanyiwe said.
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