Zola Tongo's statement (Dec 5, 2010)-
I am in formal employment but I also freelance as a shuttle operator from the Cape Town International Airport. For this latter purpose I make use of my private motor vehicle bearing registration number CF 160944, a silver grey Volkswagen Sharan.
On 12 November 2010, I was waiting for fares at the airport when approached by Shrien Dewani, who requested me to convey him and his wife, Anni Dewani (the deceased), to the Cape Grace Hotel (the hotel) in the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront.
After we arrived at the hotel, Shrien Dewani approached me alone and asked me if I knew anyone that could 'have a client of his taken off the scene'. After some discussion with him I understood that he wanted someone, a woman, killed. He said he was willing to pay an amount of R15000.00 (fifteen thousand rand). Shrien Dewani said he had US dollars and could pay in US dollars. He also asked if I knew of a place where he could exchange US dollars for rands without producing his passport and could get at a better exchange rate than the Bureau De Change gave clients.
Later the same day, on 12 November 2010, I went to a friend of mine, Monde Mbolombo (Monde) to enquire whether he could assist me in sourcing anyone prepared to carry out the killing as requested by Shrien Dewani. Monde put me in contact with Mziwamadoda Qwabe (Qwabe). This person is currently in custody awaiting trial in respect of these offences. I informed Monde that there would be R15000.00 (fifteen thousand rand) for the job. Monde said that he wanted R5000.00 (five thousand) for organising the hitman and that we should pay the hitman R10000.00 (ten thousand rand).
On Saturday 13 November 2010 Shrien Dewani contacted me to meet him at the hotel. At approximately 12h00 I met Shrien Dewani. He asked me to take him to a place where he could exchange US dollars. I took him to a place off Greenmarket Square in Cape Town. I entered the shop with him although I did not witness the transaction since he went into a room in the rear of the shop.
After leaving the shop I took Shrien Dewani back to the hotel. On the way back to the hotel he told me how he wanted the offence to be committed.
Shrien Dewani and I agreed that the offence would be perpetrated by enlisting the assistance of other parties to conceal the true nature of the offence. We would make it appear as if we were the victims of a random armed hijacking of my motor vehicle, committed with a firearm. The "hijacking" would be simulated. The agreement was that after the 'hijacking' of the vehicle, both Shrien Dewani and I would be ejected from the vehicle unharmed, after which the deceased would be kidnapped and robbed, before she was murdered. The kidnapping and robbery were part of the plan to make it appear that this was a random criminal act, unconnected to Shrien Dewani. For my assistance I would be paid R5000.00 (five thousand rand).
During the course of the afternoon of Saturday 13 November 2010, I met with Qwabe and Xolile Mngeni (Mngeni) in Khayelitsha. Mngeni is also in custody awaiting trial in respect of this matter.
During this meeting which took place in my motorvehicle, we planned how the simulated armed 'hijacking' would take place. We agreed that Shrien Dewani and I would be ejected from the vehicle and that the female occupant had to be killed. I informed Qwabe and Mngeni that they would receive R15000.00. Qwabe said that we had to leave the R15000.00 in the cubby hole of the vehicle and that they would also take my cellular telephone during the 'hijacking'.