Mossel Bay couple Dina, 73 and Ernst Marais, 71, were discovered in a crocodile-infested river in the Kruger National Park on Friday.
Image: AI
A retirement village in Mossel Bay is reeling following the brutal murder of Ernst Marais, 71, and his wife Dina, 73, whose bodies were discovered in a crocodile-infested river in the Kruger National Park on Friday.
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.
The victims' bodies were subsequently dragged to the banks of the Levubu River at Crooks’ Corner and dumped into the water near its confluence with the Limpopo River, an area known for high Nile crocodile activity.
Police spokesperson Lt-Col Hlulani Mashaba said: “Preliminary investigations revealed that the male deceased sustained stab wounds to the upper body, while the female deceased also suffered severe wounds to the upper body allegedly inflicted with a sharp object."
SANParks spokesperson JP Louw confirmed the grim discovery was made on Friday afternoon after the couple failed to return to their camp on Thursday night. The discovery coincided with the day the pair were scheduled to return home to the Garden Route.
The incident comes after several foreign governments issued travel advisories.
New Zealand’s SafeTravel guidance has warned travellers to avoid high-risk entry points like Numbi Gate due to the prevalence of violent crime.
“The community is shaken,” said Helia Scherman, general manager of Fynbos Heights.
Mossel Bay councillor Mark Edgar said: "Their deaths came as a huge shock as they were a very pleasant couple... not just a statistic."
Mossel Bay Mayor Dirk Kotzé extended his condolences: "I want to make an appeal to our National Government, SAPS, as well as other towns and institutions to do more than what is expected of us, so that the lives of our country’s residents and tourists become their first priority."
Police have launched a manhunt for the suspects and have opened cases of murder and hijacking. Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment Minister Willie Aucamp stated: “On behalf of SANParks and the department, we fully extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the victims during this extremely difficult time and are doing all we can."