A convicted taxi driver made a mistake in his initial statement to police when he said Anni Dewani's killers did not introduce themselves to him by name, he has told a court.

Zola Tongo, 34, admitted during cross-examination in Shrien Dewani's murder trial at South Africa's Western Cape High Court that Mziwamadoda Qwabe introduced himself as "Spra" at their first meeting on November 13 2010, the day Anni was killed.

Dewani is accused of the murder of his wife during their honeymoon in Cape Town in November 2010.

The bisexual entrepreneur, from Westbury-on-Trym, near Bristol, has pleaded not guilty to murder, kidnap, robbery with aggravating circumstances, conspiracy to commit these crimes and defeating the ends of justice.

Dewani claims the couple were hijacked as Tongo was driving them through Gugulethu township in his minibus on November 13. He was released unharmed and Anni was driven away. She was found shot dead in the abandoned minibus the next morning.

The prosecution alleges Dewani conspired with others to stage the hijacking in return for 15,000 rand (£850).

Qwabe is serving a 25-year jail term, while Tongo was sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment for their roles in Anni Dewani's murder. Xolile Mngeni was serving life in jail for firing the shot that killed Anni, but died in prison from a brain tumour two weeks ago.

During his evidence-in-chief today, Tongo said he had saved Qwabe's name under "H" in his cellphone and he first met him at a bus stop.

But Francois van Zyl, representing Dewani, referred to Tongo's statement, where he said he arranged to meet Qwabe at Khaya's Bazaar in Khayelitsha, and when he got into the car Qwabe did not give his name.

"There is a mistake made there. The mistake is that he introduced himself," Tongo replied.

Mr van Zyl said Tongo also told police that Xolile Mngeni did not introduce himself by name. But Tongo replied: "That was also a mistake."

Mr van Zyl asked why, if Tonga knew Mngeni and Qwabe's names, he referred to them as the first and second man in his statement to police on November 26 2010. "Why did you run away from their identities?" the lawyer asked.

Tongo said they introduced themselves to him, but he could not remember their names at that stage.

Mr van Zyl emphasised the point that Tongo had been adamant in his statement that the men did not introduce themselves. "Are you saying that the police wrote incorrectly?" he said.

Tongo said it was possible. "As time went on, I remembered their names again. There might have been a mistake there and everyone makes mistakes," Tongo said.

He said police officers were also human and could make mistakes.

Mr van Zyl said Tongo's predicament became worse because he saved Qwabe's name under "Spra", as proved by his mobile phone records, which have been entered as an exhibit.