The family of a German tourist – fatally shot during an attempted hijacking on the R538 in Mpumalanga while en-route to Numbi Gate at Kruger National Park yesterday (Monday, October 3) – are safe and are being taken care of by the Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism's Victim Support programme.

Speaking to Tourism Update earlier today, KLCBT Chairperson, Linda Grimbeek, said: “I can assure the family, and the greater industry, of two things. One, the family and loved ones of the victim won’t get better care anywhere else in the world than they will here. The Victim Support programme kicked into gear yesterday and everyone is rallying around them.

“Secondly,” added Grimbeek, “no stone will be left unturned to apprehend the suspects and bring them to justice.”

She said a high-level delegation – which includes the police, local and provincial government, SATSA, FEDHASA and the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) – is in Mpumalanga to visit the family and to ensure all measures are taken to ensure this does not occur again.

“Our already stringent security measures have been stepped up to sharpen our ongoing efforts to combat crime in the area,” Grimbeek emphasised.

Reward offered

A reward of R50 000 (€2 940) has been offered by the Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism for information that will lead to the successful prosecution of the perpetrators of the crime. 

While shaken to the core by this fatal shooting, industry bodies have expressed condolences to the survivors (three family members of the man who was shot). 

Said Oupa Pilane, co-Chair SATSA: “As a tourism community, we mourn the tragic loss of a guest to South Africa and extend our heartfelt sympathies to the family and friends. 

“We have rallied to provide immediate on-the-ground support and to find the perpetrators so that they can be brought to book swiftly. We must also escalate our efforts to ensure the safety of residents and tourists in this area.” 

Chairperson of hospitality association, FEDHASA, Rosemary Anderson, said: “We simply cannot allow this to happen again and, as FEDHASA, we trust that, in addition to the rapid mobilisation we have seen from the SAPS and other stakeholders on the ground to find and bring the perpetrators to justice, there will be real commitment in dealing with the root cause so that no family need ever endure this loss again.  

“Nothing changes if nothing changes. We need a deep, sustainable and catalytic nationwide intervention to address the root cause of crime in our country. If COVID-19 necessitated a state of emergency, then surely the pandemic of crime does too.

She added: “We all know what is wrong.  We now need dramatic on-the-ground intervention involving all sectors of Government, Labour, Society, NGOs and religious leaders to put an end to the human suffering and job losses that crime causes, particularly the latter in our tourism and hospitality sector.”

Tourism called on security cluster

Acting CEO of South African Tourism, Themba Khumalo, noted that South Africa received a large number of tourists from Germany. 

“This is one of the ways in which our tourism sector has been able to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a sector, we are aware that crime tops the list of factors that tourists have raised as a concern when choosing South Africa as a destination.”

Khumalo highlighted that it was with this in mind that, at a recent gathering of tourism industry leaders, the sector called for South Africa’s security cluster to help the sector in bolstering tourism safety and acting fast against acts of criminality that affect the sector’s potential.

“We wish to express our sympathy and extend our support to the family and friends who have had such a devastating experience in our country. South Africans are welcoming people and this criminal behavior is inconsistent with our warm and welcoming spirt which is our innate way of life. The protection of all tourists is immensely important to us and therefore we continue to consult the South African Police Services and all related authorities in this regard,” he said.

Khumalo’s sentiments were echoed by the CEO of the TBCSA, Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, who said: “Our teams will meet with our colleagues in the security cluster to discuss ways in which plans to ensure tourist safety are fast tracked ahead of our very busy summer holiday season.”

Police report

Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, said:"This was cruel and uncalled for. When one has tourists, then it means the tourism sector is benefiting. This in turn, boosts our struggling economy. We call on our good citizens who might have seen or heard anything about these criminals or the VW Caddy they were driving, to come forward and we promise to swiftly act so that they are brought to justice,” he said. 

A report by the South African Police Services said that about 16h30 yesterday, four tourists from Germany were travelling in a Hyundai H1 on Numbi Road. They were stopped by three armed suspects who were driving a VW Caddy. 

The suspects reportedly instructed the tourists to open the doors of their vehicle. However, when the driver locked all the doors, apparently one of the suspects shot him in the upper body through the window. 

The vehicle automatically drove in reverse for about 100 metres before crashing into the wall of Heroes Academy. The driver died on the spot and the suspects sped off in their vehicle without taking anything from the tourists.

A manhunt has been launched to apprehend the suspects and police urge anyone with information that may assist in apprehending the perpetrators to immediately call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111 or send information via the MySAPS App. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.