UPDATE: Top cops assigned for tourist rape case

The provincial SAPS have assigned a team of detectives, led by a senior police officer, to investigate the rape of a young female tourist from Israel.

Lowvelder reported last week how, on September 1, she was attacked along with a couple who was touring with her by armed men at their place of accommodation. The couple was robbed.

Provincial SAPS spokesman, Brig Leonard Hlathi, said it was a disappointment to all South Africans.

ALSO READ: Tourist raped in Graskop

“Tourists will not come back or not come at all because they will fear that they will get raped. This will affect the economy negatively,” he said.

He said they were looking for four suspects and the police are busy with investigations.

“At this point we cannot reveal more information. If there is anyone who has information regarding the case, they should contact the police,” he said.

In a statement, MEC for economic development and tourism, Pat Ngomane said society cannot continue to tolerate such acts.

“Once these animals are caught and they will be caught, the law must deal with them harshly and they must rot in jail. They do not deserve to live among us,” he said.

“Such disgusting acts will chase away people from coming to our province. Tourists will end up thinking that we do not need them and this will affect our tourism industry and eventually the growth of the economy of the province. Enough is enough. Women deserve better,” added Ngomane.

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• This week tourists from the Netherlands experienced ubuntu (humanity) from the local SAPS when their rental vehicle had a puncture between Dientjie and Graskop. It happened at around 18:00 and the members stayed with them until they got assistance at 20:15.

Linda Grimbeek, chief operating officer at Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism (KLCBT), said local

SAPS members from Dientjie, Sgts Malele and Zwane, stopped to help them.
She said they called Sgt Mashigo at Graskop SAPS to see whether they could help with suitable equipment, but there was no way to remove the wheel.

“The client then called the car hire firm, using Malele’s phone and they agreed to send a replacement vehicle from KMIA. Malele reached out to a person in the private sector tourism, with whom he had dealt before, to give him advice on how to proceed.

“The person spoke to the tourists, who assured him that they were relaxed and feeling very well looked after. The car hire company was contacted again to obtain details of the driver and they monitored the progress of the situation, with Mashigo passing on messages to the clients,” she said.

Mashigo stayed on the roadside with the tourists to ensure their safety.

“This is exemplary and commendable action by members of the SAPS, and on behalf of the tourism industry, we would like to thank them and commend them for their assistance.”

Grimbeek said in the next few weeks the local tourism organisations in each town of the Lowveld will make contact with their local SAPS commissioners to share contact details of private sector liaison volunteers.

“The purpose of this initiative is for the SAPS to call upon a private sector person in their own area as soon as there is a tourist in distress.”

These two incidents occurred in Tourism Month, which is aimed at encouraging South Africans and international tourists, to visit Mpumalanga.