Skukuza: Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille has expressed her condolences following the discovery of the bodies of a South African couple near a river in the northern section of the Kruger National Park.
According to South African Government News Agency, de Lille stated she was saddened by the incident and extended her sympathies to the victims' family and friends. "The safety of all travellers is of utmost importance to the tourism industry. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the victims," said the Minister. She emphasized the tourism sector's close collaboration with law enforcement and stakeholders to enhance tourist safety nationwide and urged anyone with information about the incident to assist police with their investigation.
The couple's bodies were discovered on Friday after a search operation commenced when they failed to return to their camp on Thursday evening. Addressing the media at Skukuza over the weekend, South African National Parks (SANParks) spokesperson, Reynold Thakhuli, described the incident as unprecedented in the park's history. "I would like to extend our condolences to the family and affected friends as well. It is indeed a tragic incident. We've never really seen this kind of incident in the 100 years of the Kruger National Park. This is the very first time that we are seeing something of this nature," he said.
Preliminary investigations by park rangers have revealed the couple's vehicle remains missing, but evidence suggests it may have left the park through a fence bordering neighbouring Mozambique. "The vehicle has not been found, but our rangers have done some preliminary investigations, and it has been discovered that tyre tracks are actually pointing us to the car having exited the park through a fence in Mozambique," Thakhuli explained. He clarified that the vehicle did not exit through any official gate and that SANParks' surveillance systems last detected it on the day the couple disappeared.
The incident has prompted SANParks to reassess security measures in remote sections of the park, despite existing surveillance capabilities. Thakhuli also noted that SANParks executives and South African Police Service representatives met with the victims' family on Saturday, pledging ongoing support throughout the investigation and repatriation process. The family is expected to visit the park on Monday. "We're really going to be supporting the family throughout the entire process," Thakhuli added.
Meanwhile, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Willie Aucamp, reported he had been briefed on the incident and had engaged SANParks leadership to ensure continued cooperation with the investigation conducted by the South African Police Service.