EXCLUSIVE: Missing couple showed common sense
The ZO spoke exclusively to a producer who worked with the couple just days before their disappearance
WHILE they travelled to many remote locations in search of seeds, missing botanists Rodney and Rachel Saunders were unafraid, but careful.
That’s the view of a friend who collaborated on a BBC film shoot with the couple shortly before their abduction.
‘They were street-wise and cautious, not taking unnecessary risks. They have travelled so much to so many different places, and made sure they knew where they were going and what they were doing,’ said outdoor enthusiast Robin Matthews, who was one of the last people to interact with them.
Matthews spoke exclusively to the ZO and said while the Saunders understood potential risks and were streetwise and savvy, it did not stop them from living life and following their passion.
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‘If a particular place was too risky they would avoid it, or follow local advice.’
From his experience with them, Robin believes they would have cooperated, rather than resisted, had they been hijacked or kidnapped.
‘Life is worth more than materialistic things to them, so I doubt they would have placed themselves in any danger by resisting, unless there was an opportunity to put up a fight with a good chance of winning.
‘Any resistance would more than likely have come through words and negotiating, not physical resistance. They are too smart for that.’
According to Robin, the last personal contact with the couple was on the morning of 8 February around 10am.
‘We all left to go to a site on the side of the road at the top of Oliviershoek Pass to film some Gladiolus plant species.
‘Around 11.30am they left us heading towards Vryheid via Harrismith.
‘Prior to them leaving we had discussed places in KZN to look for plants. When I was a student at UniZul in the early 90’s, and living at Twinstreams, I was introduced to the plants of Ngoye Forest by the late Dr Ian Garland.
‘I suggested to Rod and Rachel that while they are up this side of the world, they should take a turn in to Ngoye Forest to look for unique plants. Their plans were then to first visit Vryheid and Bivane, and then make their way to Ngoye Forest.
‘The last I saw that their WhatsApp was active was 10.47am on Wednesday 13th.
‘If they were last seen in the Hlobane area on 12th, I can only assume they were abducted in the Ngoye area that evening or the next morning.
‘Either way, I believe the incident happened in Ngoye while they were out of the car looking at flowers, as they always drive, stop on the road, climb out, and look a flowers they see as they drive.
‘This is what they would have done in Ngoye.’
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