Attack on German tourists fourth incident in two days, claims community
Some Numbi residents have said that the vehicle used in the killing of the tourist was the same one used in three other robberies, all occurring in the same area.
Following the fatal shooting of a German tourist on the Numbi road on Monday evening, October 3, community members alleged that three other robberies had occurred just hours before the attack.
These four tourists were on their way to a lodge near the Numbi Gate in a Hyundai Staria when they were stopped by three armed suspects in a VW Caddy.
“The suspects are said to have instructed the tourists to open the doors of their vehicle, but when the driver locked all of them, one of the suspects apparently shot him in the upper body through the window. The driver reversed for about 100m before crashing into a wall,” said a provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala.
The identity of the victim has not yet been released.
READ MORE: German tourist shot and killed en route to KNP
Several residents, on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation by the suspects, came forwards when Lowvelder visited the scene on Tuesday, claiming that similar incidents had occurred since Sunday (October 2).
In the first incident, three occupants of a VW Caddy tried to rob the driver of Toyota Fortuner with a Western Cape registration number. The driver managed to outsmart the would-be criminals and sped away unharmed. It was reported that three shots were fired at the Fortuner.
Residents reported that the occupants of two vehicles, a VW Polo and Range Rover, were robbed at the same spot in two separate cases, again by occupants of a VW Caddy, earlier on Monday morning, before the incident with the Germans.
“The criminals took their items and let them go. They returned on Monday evening to the same spot, and the murder [of the German] was committed. We heard some noise before we heard a gunshot,” claimed one of the community members. “They first made sure that the security patrol was busy on another area of the road before they attacked. They are also targeting cars that have registration plates from other provinces.”
The residents also claimed that criminals are using the speed bumps on the road, which the community had made themselves a while ago, to their advantage.
READ MORE: Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency condemns killing of German tourist, offers reward
They said that as a vehicle slows down to approach the speed bump, it is attacked.
The Masoyi police’s spokesperson, Captain Nanikie Nonyane, said none of these incidents had been officially reported to them.
“The community is asked to immediately report crime or any suspicious behaviour they see to the police, and we urge tourists to open cases if they face instances of crime,” she said.
She added that the station has an active K9 unit designated to the area, doing regular patrols.
The residents, however, believe that with enough police visibility, crime incidents would decrease.
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