The Lowveld Botanical Garden has beefed up its security after two tourists were attacked on December 24.
According to Mr Taki Mamatsharaga, the curator, they have put extra security measures in place, such as another security guard at the main gate. Other measures can’t be divulged for fear of compromising the new security.
“We have developed cooperation with neighbours, SAPS and security companies to address the situation. It seems to be paying dividends as we have not had any incident since December 24, when the garden was at its busiest,” Mamatsharaga said.
This attack was the second in less than a year.
According to a family member, Mr Ken and Ms Marilyn Newman had lunch at the restaurant in the garden and decided to take a walk afterwards.
Near the viewpoint at the waterfall, a man ran from behind and snatched Marilyn’s bag off her shoulder.
When her husband shouted at the assailant another struck him with a large rock on the side of the head from behind. He collapsed and the two attackers ran off.
According to the family member
Mr Newman’s thick bush hat prevented a fatal injury. The couple had to spend Christmas Eve at the hospital for scans and treatment of the head wound.
“The saddest of it all is that it took us years to persuade Ken and his wife to visit us in South Africa, as they had heard of the increase in crime and were worried about their safety. This trip has been long in the planning and we were all so excited to show them our beautiful country and host them in Nelspruit,” he said.
He added there was no chance that his cousins or their friends would be visiting South Africa again and believed that attacks like this would only hurt the country’s fragile economy further. “We can hardly afford our tourism industry to diminish because of a lack of safety and discipline at our tourist destinations. This country needs tourists!”
Mr Jacques Meiring of Bossies Justice and a few members of Hi-Tech Security were on the scene shortly after the attack and combed the area for the suspects. “We probably walked seven to eight kilometres in pursuit of them but to no avail,” said Meiring.
The attackers wore dark clothes. One was tall and skinny with a thin moustache, while the other was short and wore a grey shirt.
Meiring urged visitors to the garden to pay attention to their surroundings.
“Don’t assume that everyone around you is a tourist and be aware of suspicious behaviour. To prevent your valuables being lost or stolen, do not carry them on your person when going for a walk.”
