Cape Town - The deal to have Anni Hindocha killed was far more lucrative than just the R15 000 allegedly offered to arrange the hit.
New clients and a chance to grow his business were also on the table for a Cape Town taxi driver if he helped British millionaire Shrien Dewani carry out his plan to murder his bride.
This was what Zola Tongo told the Western Cape High Court on Monday when he described his first meeting with the 34-year-old.
The businessman had promised he could help the driver’s tour business flourish in return for finishing a job to “put someone out of sight”.
He was the latest witness to take the stand, on the ninth day of Dewani’s murder trial. Tongo is serving 18 years in jail for his role in the November 2010 murder.
It was the taxi driver’s affidavit that first implicated Dewani in the death of his honeymoon bride. And now there is a lot riding on how Tongo’s testimony holds up under cross-examination.
The State’s witnesses have struggled since the beginning of the trial.
Convicted killer Mziwamadoda Qwabe was revealed to have numerous discrepancies across his affidavits, testimony and plea explanation.
Last week, primary ballistics expert Pieter Engelbrecht conceded he had made mistakes when working out the trajectory of the bullet and the possibility of the killer being in the front seat.
On Monday, Leopold Leisser – the gay prostitute who wrote in his witness statement that he had numerous drug-fuelled sex sessions with Dewani – was asked to step down just 10 minutes after he took the stand.
The so-called “German Master” was about to delve into the details of his encounters with Dewani, which included letting the alleged bride killer spend the night at his Bristol home, when defence advocate Peter Botha objected. “What is the relevance of this?”
Dewani’s sexuality is not in dispute since he admitted in his plea explanation to being bisexual and having a string of liaisons with male prostitutes.
“Yes, I was wondering what the relevance of this was?” said Judge Jeanette Traverso.
Prosecutor Adrian Mopp argued that statements made by Dewani to the prostitute would help prove motive.
Hindocha’s family nodded.
“If the court is going to ask the question...” began Mopp.
“What is that question? Motive?” responded Judge Traverso.
Hindocha’s cousin, Sneha Mashru – who had testified last week – sitting on a bench at the side of the court loudly said: “Yes.”
Leisser’s eyes darted from one speaker to the other, like a spectator at a tennis match. Dewani frowned. The businessman had only quickly glanced at Leisser when he first took the stand.
Mopp, much like when a Scotland Yard detective attempted to reveal the contents of private e-mails between Dewani and a male friend two weeks ago, failed to sway the judge, who told the defence and prosecution to provide her with written arguments on why the gay escort’s testimony should be admissible in court. She then asked Leisser to step down.
When Tongo appeared he was escorted by a Correctional Services officer. The court was adjourned until after lunch because the convicted killer had to be transported from Malmesbury Prison where he is serving his sentence.
He sat still in the dock, peering over microphones and a computer monitor. Four years ago he was trying to get his tourism business off the ground. Now, most of his family refuse to even visit him in prison.
A family friend told the Cape Argus “it was unlike him to be part of something like this”.
He told the court he had had cold feet on the day of Hindocha’s murder. He had even tried to rope in a friend to drive Dewani and his bride around town and call the whole thing off. “But my friend was busy, so now I had to do it.”
When Tongo had first met Dewani at the airport he did his best to sell himself. Tourists were his lifeblood and he was always looking at ways to get more business. After he dropped off the couple at the Cape Grace Hotel, Dewani told the taxi driver that he had a job for him.
“This was good news, I just decided the hunger was over.”
He parked at the hotel’s garage and waited for Dewani to join him. When he arrived the pair conspired in Tongo’s VW Sharan, the car Hindocha would later be killed in.
“He said to me that he has a job for me. That job will make my business grow… My business will expand and grow because he can send me other people.
“I was still happy about this news when he said there is somebody he wants to be taken out of sight.”
Dewani only referred to this person as a business partner. Tongo claimed not to know it was his wife.
The businessman offered the driver R15 000 to carry out the job. Tongo would pocket R5 000, the rest would go to the shooters. In later phone calls and conversations, he said that Dewani outlined exactly how the hit would be carried out.
It would be a hijacking, Tongo would first be kicked out of the car, then Dewani. “Then the business partner would be killed.”
The hijacking was set to take place in Gugulethu on November 13, 2010, a day after the deal had first been made. But after the gunmen, Qwabe and Xolile Mngeni, struggled to find transport into the township, it was delayed.
Tongo said Dewani was watching him with a worried expression when the hit didn’t take place as planned.
Tongo’s testimony is set to continue on Tuesday morning.
Cape Argus