Dewani murder exploits SA crime situation - analyst

BusinessDay - Dewani murder exploits SA crime situation - analyst: "alleged organised murder of Swedish tourist Anni Dewani by her husband Shrien could be a blatant exploitation of South Africa’s crime rate, according to researcher Dr Johan Burger.
Burger, researcher at the Institute for Security Studies crime and justice programme, says the possible involvement of Dewani’s husband in her murder is not surprising due to the level of violent crime in the country.
'You could either use the horrible crime rate in South Africa as an excuse or hide behind the incompetence of our criminal justice system in order to cover your tracks,' he said.
Anni Dewani was found dead in Gugulethu in November, following an alleged hijacking.
In a bizarre turn of events, the man tasked with driving the couple around on the night, taxi driver Zola Tongo was on Tuesday sentenced to 18 years in prison for her murder.
British businessman Shrien Dewani apparently ordered the murder of his wife and paid Tongo R15000 according to allegations made by Western Cape director of public prosecutions Rodney de Kock in the Cape Town high Court.
'The deceased was murdered at the instance of her husband,' De Kock said in reading out a plea bargain agreement which saw Tongo plead guilty to murder.
Judge President John Hlophe is the presiding judge.
In terms of the agreement, Hlophe sentenced Zola Tongo, 31, to an effective 18 years jail.
Burger says the murder has done untold damage to South Africa’s international image and fight against crime.
'We already have a huge problem, now we have to deal with people trying to exploit the situation - it is not acceptable,' he said."