MARLOTH PARK – There is still no breakthrough in the headless-crocodile case.
The carcass of a Nile crocodile was found in a dustbin at the Marlothi Shopping Centre in the village at the end of April.
The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) confirmed to Lowvelder that the security cameras at the shopping centre did not reveal the identity of the person or persons who threw the carcass in the bin.
“The investigation is still ongoing,” said Ms Lindiwe Phiri, principal nature conservator at
the MTPA.
Residents and the honorary rangers told Lowvelder that the reward for information has been increased from R5 000 to R14 000.
Although many residents think that the crocodile’s killing was for purposes of traditional medicine, a resident, Mr Jan Koekemoer disputes this: “I don’t think the culprits would have removed the carcass of the crocodile from Gruispan to the Marlothi Shopping centre if it was used for muti. They would also possibly have used more than just the head for this, like the tail and the feet. I think the skull and jaw bones of the crocodile was used for a trophy in somebody’s bar and he is possibly bragging about how he misled the residents of Marloth Park.”
Recently the municipal rangers in Marloth Park had to remove a crocodile from the waterworks in KaMhlushwa. They were given permission by MTPA to release the reptile at Jackalberry Dam in Lionspruit.
The release of the crocodile was assisted by chief honorary ranger Mr John Webber.
Webber said that after the crocodile was released, “completely ungrateful at being given its freedom, it turned on its rescuers and had them scattering before making off into the shallow water”.
