South African National Parks (SANParks) will provide full support, including transport, accommodation, and repatriation of remains, to the family of a foreign tourist couple found murdered in the northern region of the Kruger National Park.
The husband and wife were discovered with multiple stab wounds on Friday after going missing on Wednesday. Their green Ford Ranger vehicle is still missing.
SANParks spokesperson Reynold Thakhuli extended the organisation’s deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased couple. He confirmed that the next of kin have been notified, and that the SANParks Chief Executive Officer, along with members of the South African Police Service (SAPS), visited the family yesterday to offer support.
“The family will probably come either tomorrow or sometime during the week,” Thakhuli said. SANParks is in daily contact with the family and will assist with their transport into the park, accommodation, and the repatriation of the couple’s mortal remains.
The bodies were found in the northern parts of the park, while a SADC summit involving several foreign ministers is underway at the Skukuza area in Mpumalanga province. Thakhuli described the murder as an isolated incident, noting that no similar event has occurred in the 100-year history of Kruger National Park.
He assured that the safety of all visitors, including the diplomats attending the summit, is guaranteed. The park uses world-class tracking technology, ranger services, protection services, and works closely with the South African Police Service, State Security, and the South African National Defence Force.
“Later today we will be releasing a statement in terms of what mitigating factors we’re going to be implementing, particularly in some of these isolated areas,” Thakhuli added.
The SAPS has confirmed that Limpopo Provincial Commissioner Tihade has assembled a specialised team to track down the suspects, who remain at large. SANParks is cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation.