NILAM Hindocha - Anni Dewani's mother - plucked up the courage to fly thousands of kilometres to retrace her beloved daughter's steps moments before she died
Today, after fighting her tears since landing in Cape Town on Saturday, she will finally visit Gugulethu, outside Cape Town, where her son-in-law Shrien Dewani and Zola Tongo are alleged to have feigned a hijacking in which her daughter was murdered on November 13.
She will then go to Khayelitsha where Anni's lifeless body was found on the back seat of Tongo's abandoned car.
During an emotional interview yesterday, Hindocha said she wanted "justice for Anni so that we can carry on with our lives".
"This country and its people have been so warm, so sympathetic, that made us (feel) so welcome, and that really touched my heart. In any other circumstances we would have loved everything but of course it comes with a lot of sadness," she said.
Tongo, who shuttled the honeymooning couple around Cape Town, implicated Dewani during a plea-and-sentencing agreement in the high court in Cape Town after his arrest. He said Dewani asked him to arrange hitmen to kill Anni and he paid R15000 for her murder. Tongo is now serving an 18-year sentence.
Hindocha said her family would like to avoid the media during her visit to the two townships today.
"We just want our privacy. We just want to do it in our own time, you can understand that I want to be alone. I don't want any intrusion. It's not easy for me. It's not easy for my husband - so please we want to be left alone. It would have been the happiest journey of her life but it turned (into) a tragedy."
Hindocha flew into the country to be with her husband, Vinod, who has been avidly following their daughter's murder case in the South African courts.
On Friday, he attended a hearing of the alleged hitmen, Mziwamadoda Qwabe and Xolile Mngeni, in the Wynberg magistrate's court. Both are in custody and will be back in court on June 1 when their trial is due to start. Qwabe applied for bail but his application was turned down last week.
Amid their grief, the Hindochas took a moment to go on a boat cruise and visit the Cape Winelands. Yesterday, they also lit candles in remembrance of Anni in church.
Hindocha said they have two girls and one boy and Anni was their middle child. She described her as "very lovely, very happy, very generous (and) full of life" and said "she always wanted children" of her own.
She wouldn't be drawn on Dewani's alleged involvement in the murder.
Vinod said: "Shrien doesn't call us and we haven't had contact with his family since December 4, the day I came to South Africa.
Mother retraces Anni's footsteps
NILAM Hindocha - Anni Dewani's mother - plucked up the courage to fly thousands of kilometres to retrace her beloved daughter's steps moments before she died
Today, after fighting her tears since landing in Cape Town on Saturday, she will finally visit Gugulethu, outside Cape Town, where her son-in-law Shrien Dewani and Zola Tongo are alleged to have feigned a hijacking in which her daughter was murdered on November 13.
She will then go to Khayelitsha where Anni's lifeless body was found on the back seat of Tongo's abandoned car.
During an emotional interview yesterday, Hindocha said she wanted "justice for Anni so that we can carry on with our lives".
"This country and its people have been so warm, so sympathetic, that made us (feel) so welcome, and that really touched my heart. In any other circumstances we would have loved everything but of course it comes with a lot of sadness," she said.
Tongo, who shuttled the honeymooning couple around Cape Town, implicated Dewani during a plea-and-sentencing agreement in the high court in Cape Town after his arrest. He said Dewani asked him to arrange hitmen to kill Anni and he paid R15000 for her murder. Tongo is now serving an 18-year sentence.
Hindocha said her family would like to avoid the media during her visit to the two townships today.
"We just want our privacy. We just want to do it in our own time, you can understand that I want to be alone. I don't want any intrusion. It's not easy for me. It's not easy for my husband - so please we want to be left alone. It would have been the happiest journey of her life but it turned (into) a tragedy."
Hindocha flew into the country to be with her husband, Vinod, who has been avidly following their daughter's murder case in the South African courts.
On Friday, he attended a hearing of the alleged hitmen, Mziwamadoda Qwabe and Xolile Mngeni, in the Wynberg magistrate's court. Both are in custody and will be back in court on June 1 when their trial is due to start. Qwabe applied for bail but his application was turned down last week.
Amid their grief, the Hindochas took a moment to go on a boat cruise and visit the Cape Winelands. Yesterday, they also lit candles in remembrance of Anni in church.
Hindocha said they have two girls and one boy and Anni was their middle child. She described her as "very lovely, very happy, very generous (and) full of life" and said "she always wanted children" of her own.
She wouldn't be drawn on Dewani's alleged involvement in the murder.
Vinod said: "Shrien doesn't call us and we haven't had contact with his family since December 4, the day I came to South Africa.
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