“She loved those lions. In December she told me she is cutting her holiday short to go back to her lions,” a very sad Mrs. Carla van Wyk from Three Rivers told Vaalweekblad on Tuesday.
Swané worked and lived on the Zwartkloof Private Nature Reserve outside Bela-Bela (Warmbad) for the last two years and almost two months. The tragedy happened last Thursday (6 Feb 2020) at about 17:00. On this fateful day, Swané was doing her routine tasks in the enclosure when she was attacked by the lions. Currently, nobody knows how many lions were involved.
Her co-workers just heard her screaming for help. Swané managed to get out of the enclosure, but later died on the scene. She had several deep wounds where she had been bitten and scratched.
Messages of condolences started pouring in on her Facebook page shortly after her death. The reserve also apparently closed its gates for quite some time for the workers to get over the shock. At the time of going to press, it was still not known if any of the lions were shot afterwards.
Swané completed primary school at Laerskool Risiville and completed grade 8 and 9 at Hoërskool Overvaal. She spent the rest of her high school years as a Dokkie at Hoërskool Dr. Malan in Meyerton.
“We have not received any information on the circumstances surrounding her death yet”, Mrs. van Wyik said.
* Swané’s memorial service took place on Friday, 14 February.
