A tourist was robbed at Kruger National Park’s Malelane Gate on 16 October. This comes only weeks after the US Embassy warned its citizens to avoid Kruger National Park’s Numbi Gate following the murder of a German tourist.
Malelane Gate
The US Embassy’s warning cites an ‘increase in crime’ and ‘recommends that US Citizens avoid Numbi Gate at Kruger National Park and instead use either Paul Kruger or Phabeni gates when entering and leaving the park.’
Sune Eloff was the victim of a robbery at Malelane Gate, posting on the SANParks – Kruger National Park Facebook: ‘We were just victims of remote jamming at Malelane gate! ‘
‘Right in front of the gate with many people and guards around,’ she continued. ‘All valuables and camera equipment taken in minutes! I am absolutely devastated!! And that no one could help us… first Numbi, and now Malelane??’
However, Eloff added that ‘I want to give all the praise I can to one specific lady from the tourism industry. She got hold of me, and contacted all the right people at SANParks, she kept me in the loop of everything! Chief Officers phoned me from SANParks at Skukuza and we took hands along with SAPS Malelane to work through what we could do.’
Regardless of her terrible experience, she remained positive. ‘Still a long way to go, and still heartbroken, and still feel terrible, but the help I got after this happened made me realize how amazing this community is and that I still am proudly South African,’ she concluded.
SANParks released a statement saying it commends the SAPS for the swift arrest of a suspect in the fatal shooting of a German tourist along Numbi road.
‘There are also strong leads that are being followed by the Malelane SAPS in their investigation into two incidents that happened in the town recently involving tourists. We believe that tourist safety is a collective effort which is why a meeting has been set up to strategise against criminality in the areas adjoining the KNP to give safe passage to all travellers,’ SANParks added.
Picture: Getaway Gallery
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