Four visitors to Kruger National Park were allegedly robbed by four armed men after exiting the Park via the Numbi Gate on Monday, 18 April.
Picture: Ashley / Flickr Commons
According to police spokesperson Capt Nanikie Nonyane, there was an unmarked police vehicle nearby that witnessed the incident and came over to assist the tourists, causing the attackers to flee.
‘The car slowed down at one of the speed humps that had not been constructed by the municipality and the suspects pointed a gun at the driver, ordering him to stop… The perpetrators fired one shot at the police [car] and fled the scene on foot with a phone stolen from the victims,’ Nonyane told the Lowvelder.
The tourists then drove to a nearby police station with the unmarked vehicle behind them.
A member of the Kruger National Parks Facebook group said the victims are her friends, and that ‘At the police station there was no one to assist so they left as the unmarked vehicle’s guys could not even produce a police badge so they were wary of trusting them.’
‘Really a sad state, Sanparks should seriously consider closing Numbi gate or actively warn people from using it,’ Mareta Le Roux added.
No one was injured and the tourists reportedly did not press charges.
Earlier this month, SANParks met with Business Chambers, SAPS, and the local Community Council to address and discuss plans to curb crime at Numbi Gate.
