The Limpopo Police are on a manhunt following the discovery of an elderly Mossel Bay couple, Dina (73) and Ernst Marais (71), in a river on Friday, May 22. They had multiple stab wounds.
Image: AI/ Cape Times
The Limpopo Police have launched a high-priority investigation into a Kruger National Park murder and hijacking case following the discovery of an elderly Mossel Bay couple, Dina (73) and Ernst Marais (71), in a river on Friday, May 22.
Limpopo Police spokesperson Hlulani Mashaba confirmed that the couple, who were visiting the park from the Western Cape, were reported missing after failing to return to their holiday estate as scheduled. The tragic end to their trip has shocked the local community and tourists alike.
The couple originally checked into the park on Sunday, May 17. They were last seen alive at the Pafuri picnic area on Wednesday morning, shortly before communications ceased and a large-scale search operation was initiated.
South African National Parks (SANParks) reported that a 24-hour search operation involving ground teams and a helicopter was launched on Thursday. Despite these efforts, it was tourists who eventually spotted the bodies floating in a nearby river.
While the couple resided in Mossel Bay, they also owned a property in a wildlife estate in Hoedspruit. Security personnel visited the estate during the search to rule out the possibility that they had returned there, but the property was found empty.
SANParks spokesperson Reynold Thakuli stated that authorities initially suspected the couple's bakkie might have been trapped by recent heavy rains and flooding in the northern sections of the park. However, the missing vehicle has prompted the inclusion of hijacking charges in the criminal probe.
"Many roads remained closed due to the weather, and we deployed aerial support to locate the vehicle, but our search yielded no results," Thakuli added. The bakkie remains missing as of Sunday morning.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) continues to appeal to anyone with information regarding the incident or the whereabouts of the vehicle to come forward. The investigation is ongoing, with forensic teams processing the scene for further evidence.