Two tourists found murdered in Kruger National Park

[Nerfherder]

Apparently it looks like they were murdered during a robbery/hijacking and it’s the first incident of that kind in Kruger, surely not?

First time in 100 years,

People get eaten all the time but due to the car going missing it looks like this the first time its ever been a human doing the killing.

The thing is... there is a good reason why people don't get robbed and hijacked (and murdered) in the park. The logistics of pulling this off is just so impractical when you could easily do it outside the park and not involve park rangers and lions.

So the fact that the two were out of their vehicles and were killed - makes me think that its not a random hijacking.

Its close to the border, so we assume the murderer(s) crossed the border via the park on foot, then hung round a tourist spot.
Then attacked two old people and chose instead of just leaving them, to kill them and take their vehicle (and valuables).
Then get the vehicle out the park without signing out at any of the gates.
Its possible but highly unlikely....

I'd look for dodgy business partners.

 

[Nerfherder]

Right on the Zim border, good chance that the police are not going to find the criminals.

Zim and Mozambique.

I know they found them close to Pafuri I don't think the exact spot is known.

Would be interesting if it was at Crooks corner.

 

[supersunbird]

Zim and Mozambique.

I know they found them close to Pafuri I don't think the exact spot is known.

Would be interesting if it was at Crooks corner.

The bodies were discovered on Friday, 22 May, near the Luvuvhu River in the Crooks Corner area where the borders of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique meet.

Seems it was there or near there.

 

[Jean Claude Vaaldamme]

So the fact that the two were out of their vehicles and were killed - makes me think that its not a random hijacking.

Where do you get your facts? You seem to be making them up.

Also from your other comment. Their bodies were discovered at/in the river at Crooks corner, so the few facts we do know, you don't even know.

 

[My_King]

Rules for thee not for me.

No killing of these "animals".

 

[Monkeyz]

Heard on the radio that they suspect the perps used the stolen bakkie to drive over the fence into Moz

 

[GrootVoet]

Big knock for tourism in the KNP, people that used to think it is safe (apart from the lions) now will think twice to go and visit.

 

[Nerfherder]

Where do you get your facts? You seem to be making them up.

Are they still alive and still in their vehicle ?

What facts are being made up ?

Also from your other comment. Their bodies were discovered at/in the river at Crooks corner, so the few facts we do know, you don't even know.

It just says near view point and that they were staying a Pafuri.

Sounds like Cooks, most likely is.... not sure what your issue is ?

 

[Nerfherder]

Heard on the radio that they suspect the perps used the stolen bakkie to drive over the fence into Moz

Assume there was no tracking on the vehicle ? Perhaps KNP is a black hole for tracking...

 

[konfab]

First time in 100 years,

People get eaten all the time but due to the car going missing it looks like this the first time its ever been a human doing the killing.

The thing is... there is a good reason why people don't get robbed and hijacked (and murdered) in the park. The logistics of pulling this off is just so impractical when you could easily do it outside the park and not involve park rangers and lions.

So the fact that the two were out of their vehicles and were killed - makes me think that its not a random hijacking.

Its close to the border, so we assume the murderer(s) crossed the border via the park on foot, then hung round a tourist spot.
Then attacked two old people and chose instead of just leaving them, to kill them and take their vehicle (and valuables).
Then get the vehicle out the park without signing out at any of the gates.
Its possible but highly unlikely....

I'd look for dodgy business partners.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the male victim sustained stab wounds to the upper body, while the female victim also suffered severe upper-body injuries, allegedly inflicted with a sharp object,” said Thembi Hadebe, Limpopo’s provincial police commissioner.

The victims’ vehicle, a green Ford Ranger double cab, is missing. Cases of murder and hijacking have been opened.

So far, investigations have revealed that gate security cameras have not picked up the missing car exiting from any of the nine access gates or the two international border posts into Mozambique.

However, park rangers, according to SANParks, did find what they believe are the tyre tracks of the missing vehicle, near the crime scene. The tracks led through the bush over the fence into neighbouring Mozambique. The statement stressed that there was no confirmation that the tracks belonged to the missing vehicle.

On Saturday, members of the SANParks board, executive management and SAPS senior management visited the family of Dina and Ernst Marais to extend their condolences and offer support. During the visit, family members told of how the couple were regular visitors to Kruger and were known to strictly adhere to the park’s rules, and would have never have exited their vehicle where they were not allowed to.





https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/art...fter-mossel-bay-couple-killed-in-kruger-park/

 

[NarrowBandFtw]

hanging out in a national park waiting for a chance to hijack some old people seems terribly inefficient

maybe rather a case of wrong place, wrong time? some ISIS scum hopped the border and ran into the victims? or poachers perhaps, though I imagine they would typically use guns?

 

[wbot]

Only bad news coming out of the Kruger these days. If it's not floods and damage, poaching, theft and robberies, tiktok morons spinning and drifting etc, it's murders.

Sad.

 

[aleksandar]

hanging out in a national park waiting for a chance to hijack some old people seems terribly inefficient

maybe rather a case of wrong place, wrong time? some ISIS scum hopped the border and ran into the victims? or poachers perhaps, though I imagine they would typically use guns?

True unless you are following somebody so few guys in the car waiting for opportunity.

 

[Herr der Verboten]

...canned white man hunting is a thing?

 

[Jean Claude Vaaldamme]

My theory is.
Its on the border where SA, Zim, and Moz meet. Knives or some sharp object was used.
So I would guess some new inexperienced criminals walked from one of those two countries to the viewpoint(maybe hiding in the bushes). Attacked the unsuspecting couple while they were sitting in their vehicle. Fled with vehicle over river and not border post.

 

[Nerfherder]

My theory is.
Its on the border where SA, Zim, and Moz meet. Knives or some sharp object was used.
So I would guess some new inexperienced criminals walked from one of those two countries to the viewpoint(maybe hiding in the bushes). Attacked the unsuspecting couple while they were sitting in their vehicle. Fled with vehicle over river and not border post.

Crazy if it is the case though. i'm not sure what water levels are like right now.

It does scream opportunistic though, no attempt to hide bodies or even put them in the river.
Getting a vehicle in the park and then just crossing a border into either Zim or Mozam seems like a longshot.
I don't know if a sane person would plan to do that.

 

[wbot]

I don't know if a sane person would plan to do that.

Murderers aren't sane though.

 

[nulkoel]

The couple, residents of the Fynbos Heights retirement village, had been on a short getaway to the park when they were allegedly intercepted by a group of suspected rhino poachers.

According to a leaked internal security report, the suspects tied the couple’s hands behind their backs before repeatedly stabbing them in the upper body.

Mossel Bay couple ‘butchered’ by suspected poachers in Kruger National Park

A retirement village in Mossel Bay is in shock following the brutal murder of Ernst Marais and his wife Dina, whose bodies were found in a crocodile-infested river in Kruger National Park. The couple's tragic fate has raised alarms internationally, prompting travel advisories.

capetimes.co.za

 

[konfab]

hanging out in a national park waiting for a chance to hijack some old people seems terribly inefficient

maybe rather a case of wrong place, wrong time? some ISIS scum hopped the border and ran into the victims? or poachers perhaps, though I imagine they would typically use guns?

Think about the logistics.

1) Isolated people, likely without cellphone signal
2) Within a stone's throw of Mozambique border, and conveniently located in a cross-border park, in other words, zero border control.
3) They provide a nice off-road capable getaway vehicle.

4) It isn't in a random place either, it likely was at the picnic site. People are not on their guard for orcs when they go to the Kruger. So you catch people who are genuinely off guard.

 

[Monkeyz]

Assume there was no tracking on the vehicle ? Perhaps KNP is a black hole for tracking...

They never mentioned tracking, they apparently spotted tire tracks going through the bush and over a fallen part of the border fence.