T-shirts carrying controversial material that brought to mind the gruesome murder of Indian-origin woman Anni Dewani in 2010 has sparked outrage in South Africa.
The controversial T-shirt imprinted with an objectionable message saying, "Dewani Tours - treat your wife to a killer holiday" refers to the killing of Swedish-born Anni Dewani, who was shot dead in the South African township of Gugulethu while she was travelling with her Britain-based businessman husband Shrien Dewani in a taxi.
"This is a blatant disregard and disrespectful way of showing no remorse over a killing that shocked not just South Africa but the world," Press Trust of India quoted Vusi Ndoda, a resident of Gugulethu, as saying.
However, Dinesh Dowlath, an Indian-origin businessman who designed the T-shirts, lashed out saying that the message meant no form of disrespect to the horrific murder.
In a statement to the Sunday Times Extra, Dowlath said that such types of T-shirts carrying controversial statements were his stores' specialty. "These T-shirts are for a discerning intelligent market," he said, according to the weekly.
Anni was shot dead in a fake car-jacking incident while on a honeymoon trip with Shrien. While Shiren and the taxi driver Zola Tongo were allowed to go, the two hit-men who hijacked the taxi and killed Anni.
Soon after the murder was reported, South African (SA) police officials arrested the taxi driver, and based on his confession, the SA police claimed it was indeed Shrien who had arranged for the two hit-men to kill his wife.
Shrien, who was the fourth person to be accused in the case, has so far denied any involvement in his wife's murder. In March this year, a court in the UK gave temporary relief to the NRI man from being extradited to South Africa in connection with the case.
The British High court ruled that Shrien, who is suffering from a post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, will be extradited only when he recovers and becomes fit to plead.
