Anni Ninna Dewani (nee Hindocha) was a Swedish woman of Indian origin, born in Mariestad in 1982 after her family settled in Sweden following the expulsion of Asians from Uganda in the early 1970s. She met Shrien Dewani in London in 2009, moved to the United Kingdom in 2010, and the couple married near Mumbai, India, on 29 October 2010. On 7 November 2010 they arrived in South Africa for their honeymoon, spending several nights near the Kruger National Park before returning to Cape Town.
On the evening of 13 November 2010, the couple hired taxi driver Zola Tongo to drive them through the city. After dinner, as they were driven into the Gugulethu area, two armed men hijacked the vehicle. Tongo and Shrien Dewani were each ejected from the taxi during a robbery in which cash, jewellery and mobile telephones were taken. At about 07:50 the next morning, Anni Dewani was found dead in the back of the abandoned taxi in Lingelethu West, having suffered a single gunshot wound. A post-mortem examination recorded bruising consistent with a struggle and found no sign of sexual assault.
Three men were arrested within days. Two hijackers and a hotel receptionist first described the death as an unintended killing during a robbery and kidnapping. Facing long sentences, several later changed their accounts to allege the attack had been a premeditated murder for hire arranged by Shrien Dewani. Tongo, who had reported himself as an innocent victim, also revised his statement to implicate the husband. Plea bargains and, for the receptionist, immunity were offered in exchange for testimony.
Zola Tongo pleaded guilty to murder in December 2010 and was sentenced to 18 years. Mziwamadoda Qwabe pleaded guilty in August 2012 and received 25 years. Xolile Mngeni was convicted at trial in November 2012 and sentenced to life; he died in prison in October 2014 while terminally ill. Defence lawyers alleged during the proceedings that some confessions had been obtained through coercion, claims the trial courts rejected.
Shrien Dewani was extradited from the United Kingdom in April 2014 and charged with conspiracy, robbery, kidnapping, murder and obstructing justice. At his trial the key witnesses contradicted their earlier statements and one another. On 8 December 2014, Judge Traverso dismissed the case under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act, ruling there was no credible evidence linking him to the crime, and he was acquitted and exonerated. The court also found that earlier conclusions in the Mngeni trial had rested on flawed forensic evidence and perjured testimony. A United Kingdom coroner later declined to resume an inquest, citing the South African proceedings.
Anni Hindocha and Shrien Dewani marry at Lake Powai near Mumbai, India.
2010-11-07
The couple land at Cape Town International Airport for their honeymoon.
2010-11-12
The couple return to Cape Town and engage taxi driver Zola Tongo.
2010-11-13
The taxi is hijacked by two armed men after dinner near Gugulethu; the couple are driven away.
2010-11-14
Anni Dewani is found dead in the abandoned taxi in Lingelethu West with a single gunshot wound.
2010-11-16
Xolile Mngeni is arrested after a palm print is found on the taxi.
2010-11-18
Mziwamadoda Qwabe and a hotel receptionist are arrested; Qwabe later alleges a murder-for-hire plot.
2010-11-20
Zola Tongo surrenders to police and alleges the killing was arranged by Shrien Dewani.
2010-12-07
Zola Tongo pleads guilty to murder and is sentenced to 18 years under a plea agreement.
2012-08
Mziwamadoda Qwabe pleads guilty to murder and is sentenced to 25 years under a plea agreement.
2012-11-19
Xolile Mngeni is convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.
2014-04-07
Shrien Dewani is extradited from the United Kingdom to South Africa and charged.
2014-10-06
Shrien Dewani's trial begins in the Western Cape High Court.
2014-10-18
Xolile Mngeni dies in prison while terminally ill with a brain tumour.
2014-12-08
Shrien Dewani is acquitted and exonerated under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act.
2015-10-09
A UK coroner confirms there is insufficient cause to resume an inquest into Anni Dewani's death.
Best coverage
Titles and descriptions are the creators’ own and may not reflect current legal status; see the dossier above for sourced case facts.
VIDEO
Bella Fiori / 36 min
THE HONEYMOON MURDER: The Case Of Anni Dewani
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That Chapter / 26 min
The Betrayal of Anni Dewani
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Dr. Todd Grande / 16 min
Honeymoon Murder in South Africa | Anni Dewani Case Analysis
People
Xolile Mngeni
CONVICTED
Convicted of murder at trial in November 2012 and sentenced to life; died in prison in October 2014 while terminally ill.
Shrien Dewani
ACQUITTED
Anni Dewani's husband; extradited to South Africa and charged with arranging the killing, then acquitted and exonerated in December 2014 when the court found no credible evidence linking him to the crime.
Zola Tongo
CONVICTED
Taxi driver who pleaded guilty to the robbery, kidnapping and murder under a Section 105A plea agreement; sentenced to 18 years in December 2010.
Mziwamadoda Qwabe
CONVICTED
Hijacker who pleaded guilty to murder under a Section 105A plea agreement in August 2012; sentenced to 25 years.
Anni Dewani
VICTIM
Swedish newlywed shot dead during a taxi hijacking on her honeymoon; found with a single gunshot wound on 14 November 2010.
Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.
Swedish newlywed Anni Dewani was shot dead during a taxi hijacking on her honeymoon near Cape Town in 2010; three men were convicted of the crime and her husband was acquitted and exonerated.
Where did the murder happen?
Cape Town, South Africa.
Who was convicted?
Xolile Mngeni (Convicted of murder at trial in November 2012 and sentenced to life; died in prison in October 2014 while terminally ill.), Zola Tongo (Taxi driver who pleaded guilty to the robbery, kidnapping and murder under a Section 105A plea agreement; sentenced to 18 years in December 2010.), and Mziwamadoda Qwabe (Hijacker who pleaded guilty to murder under a Section 105A plea agreement in August 2012; sentenced to 25 years.).
