The anger of Anni Dewani’s grieving family as they slam the release of their ‘lowlife’ cab driver killer after just eight years

THE family of murdered honeymoon bride Anni Dewani has slammed the release of their “lowlife” killer after just eight years in prison.

Anni, 28, was shot dead in a taxi driven by Zola Tongo in 2010 after it was hijacked by two gunmen in a rough suburb of Cape Town, South Africa.

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Tongo reportedly hired two hitmen for her honeymoon in Cape Town, South Africa in 2010 on behalf of her British millionaire husband, Shrien.

After serving less than half of his 18-year sentence as a “model prisoner,” 41-year-old Tongo was freed from hell-hole Malmesbury prison near Cape Town.

But Swedish-born Anni’s family have reacted dismayed to the news and slammed the decision.

“We are disappointed by this,” her uncle Ashok Hindocha, who lives in Mariestad, Sweden, told the Daily Mail.

“My beautiful niece’s life was taken and this creature Tongo is now free to roam the streets.”

“Of course, Anni won’t bring anything back, but that lowlife character drove her to her death.”

Ashok and Anni’s father Vinod visited Tongo in his Cape Town prison last year and were able to stop an offer of parole at the time.

Tongo’s parole was withdrawn a day before his release for good behavior.

Ashok said the family believes Tongo has more information about what happened to Anni than he told police.

“We gave him the opportunity to tell us what he was hiding and who he was protecting, but he declined,” Ashok said.

“We really think he has more information on how the whole murder was arranged and carried out.

“I heard that Tongo did not keep himself in good health in prison. I don’t wish him well.’

Vinod added, “We will not rest until all the facts are known about how and why she was murdered.”

Dewani, now 42, from Bristol, and Anni were married in a traditional Hindu ceremony in Mumbai and flew to Cape Town for their honeymoon.

They were traveling in a taxi on the outskirts of the city when they were kidnapped at gunpoint on November 13, 2010.

He was later released unharmed, but his wife was shot.

The trial of nursing home tycoon Dewani for Anni’s murder was dramatically cut short in 2014 when a judge ruled there was insufficient evidence to proceed.

During the trial he admitted that he had visited gay prostitutes and that he was bisexual – his sexuality had not been revealed to his or Anni’s family at the time of his marriage.

Prosecutors claimed Dewani was so desperate to get out of an unwanted marriage that he recruited Tongo to kill his wife during a staged auto theft.

Tongo’s parole was granted on a number of conditions, including house arrest, a community service order, and an alcohol and drug ban.

During his probation, he must undergo psychological treatment and be examined by social workers.

Hitman Mziwamadoda Qwabe also pleaded guilty to murder and is serving a 25-year sentence.

The man who fired the shot that killed Anni, Xolile Mngeni, died in prison of cancer while serving his sentence.

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