HAZYVIEW – The crime situation in the area is under control, according to provincial police, despite yet another murder at a guest establishment over the weekend and an attack on two tourists from the Netherlands on Wednesday.
“Nothing is getting out of hand at Hazyview or in the whole province. I don’t know where that rumour comes from.
“The police are not going to disclose their procedures and officials will be deployed according to an analysis within the SAPS,” provincial spokesman Brig Selvy Mohlala told Lowvelder when asked about the seeming flare up in attacks in the area and what they planned to do about it.
“We have had a few incidents here and there, but the situation is under control. The owners of these establishments must take responsibility for their own safety and that of their guests,” he continued.
Dutch tourists injured during attack
The latest incident occurred at Hazyriver Country Estate on Wednesday at about 02:00. Three armed men gained entry to the estate by crawling through an electric fence. They forced their way into the house where two men from the Netherlands were staying. One of the robbers fired a shot into the ground and the tourists, obviously not wearing any shoes at the time, both sustained shrapnel wounds to their feet as some of the tiles were shattered.
The men fled with a vanity case and a flatscreen television that was found abandoned near the house. According to Mohlala, the robbers made their way to another chalet on the property, forced open the door and stole another TV before fleeing the scene. Netcare 911 paramedics took the tourists to Mediclinic Nelspruit for treatment. They had been at the reserve for 10 days and were scheduled to leave
that day.
Meanwhile, no arrests have yet been made in connection with the murder of Mr Johannes Cornelissen (31). He was shot at Ant & Elephant on Friday night and died on the scene.
MEC for economic development, environment and tourism responds
Ms Pinky Phosa issued a statement after Cornelissen’s murder, in which she urged all stakeholders in the tourism industry to prioritise the safety of tourists at guest establishments, by cooperating with the police. “As the department responsible for tourism, we will continue to work very closely with SAPS in partnership with the private sector to safeguard tourists and our communities. The province is in the process of developing its tourism safety plan which we believe will strengthen our working in this regard,” said Phosa.
She has also committed to working with all stakeholders in the tourism industry in an effort to ensure an increase in the number of tourist arrivals and their safety in the province. Mohlala urged anyone with information about the attack at Hazyriver, to contact WO Dolph Malumane on 082-492-3189.
