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Anni Dewani Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 28, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth12 March 1982

Age28 (at time of death)

BirthplaceMariestad, Sweden

ProfessionEngineer

NationalitySwedish

Marital statusMarried (at time of death)

SpouseShrien Dewani

FamilyFather - Vinod Hindocha; Mother - Nilam Hindocha; Uncle - Ashok Hindocha; Siblings - Anish Hindocha (brother), Ami Denborg (sister)

Anni Dewani Biography

Anni Ninna Dewani (born Anni Ninna Hindocha) was a Swedish engineer whose life was cut short during her honeymoon in South Africa in November 2010. Her 201

Early life and background

Anni Ninna Hindocha was born on 12 March 1982 in Mariestad, Sweden. Her family had moved to Sweden after being expelled from Uganda in the 1970s, and Anni grew up in the Mariestad area. She was known to have brown hair and brown eyes and was described by relatives as a joyful, bubbly person.

Career

Anni trained and worked as an engineer and was also reported to have worked as a product designer in Sweden. Her career was based in Sweden prior to her move to the United Kingdom in 2010.

Personal life

Anni met Shrien Dewani in 2009 through a mutual friend. The couple became engaged in May 2010 and were married on 29 October 2010 at Lake Powai near Mumbai, India. Following their wedding, they planned a later reception for friends and family in India.

Death and investigation

Anni Dewani died on 13 November 2010 while on honeymoon in South Africa. The couple had visited Kruger National Park and later arrived in Cape Town on 7 November. On 12 November they returned to Cape Town and used a taxi driven by Zola Tongo to travel around the city. On 13 November, after visiting restaurants in Gugulethu and Strand, the taxi was hijacked en route in Gugulethu. The driver was forced from the vehicle and, after some time, the husband was also removed from the taxi and left on the roadside. Anni’s body was later found in the back of the Volkswagen Sharan taxi in Lingelethu West. Her cause of death was a single gunshot wound to the neck; her belongings including a wristwatch, bracelet, handbag and mobile phone were reported missing. Post-mortem findings indicated a single shot to the neck passed by her hand, signs of bruising and a struggle, and no sexual assault.

Legal aftermath

Several men were arrested and tried in connection with the killing. Xolile Mngeni was arrested on 16 November 2010; he later received a life sentence. Mziwamadoda Qwabe was sentenced to 25 years in February 2011. Taxi driver Zola Tongo was later sentenced to 18 years in August 2020. During the course of investigations and trials, accounts about the events and motivations changed multiple times and included differing statements by those arrested.

Shrien Dewani, Anni’s husband, consistently denied involvement in the killing. In 2014 a South African court cleared him of the murder charges. The court noted that other suspects in the case had not been charged, a matter remarked on by the judge at the time.

Public profile

Anni’s death received extensive media attention internationally. Her family spoke publicly in the years after her death about their loss and their continuing search for answers. Her father later wrote a book recounting the family’s experiences after her death and the impact of the legal proceedings.

In 2021 a documentary titled "Anni – The Honeymoon Murder" was released and aired on the Discovery channel on the anniversary of her death. The programme included interviews and coverage of the case, including statements by individuals connected to the events.

Latest updates

After the trials, some of those convicted served long prison sentences; one of the men convicted, Xolile Mngeni, later died in custody in 2014 after developing a brain tumour. The case remains a subject of public interest, and family members have continued to speak about Anni’s life and the questions that remain about what happened to her.
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Career Highlights

  1. Worked as an engineer and product designer in Sweden
  2. Married Shrien Dewani on 29 October 2010
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Anni Dewani born?

12 March 1982

What is Anni Dewani known for?

Engineer

What is Anni Dewani’s marital status?

Married (at time of death)

Who is Anni Dewani married to?

Shrien Dewani