Dina and Ernst Marais were found murdered in a river on Friday, May 22.
Image: AI/ Cape Times
Police have confirmed that investigations into the murder of a Western Cape couple in the Kruger National Park remain ongoing.
The couple were identified as Dina Marais,73, and Ernst Marais, 71, from Mossel Bay.
The couple entered the park on May 17, to celebrate Dina’s birthday; however, they were reported missing on Wednesday morning at the Pafuri picnic site.
Sadly, their bodies were discovered floating at Cross Corner on the banks of the Levubu River near the Limpopo River intersection on Friday, May 22.
Their vehicle, a double-cab green Ford Ranger, was missing. Police immediately opened a double murder and hijacking case.
Investigators said Ernst sustained stab wounds to the upper body, while Dina also suffered severe injuries allegedly inflicted with a sharp object.
The Limpopo police spokesperson, Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, was tight-lipped on the ongoing investigation and only told IOL that:
“The investigations are ongoing and at an advanced stage”.
The Kruger National Park spans more than two million hectares and shares a 374km border with Mozambique and Zimbabwe. According to SANParks, no similar incident has ever been recorded within the reserve in its 100-year history.
SANParks spokesperson Rey Thakhuli told IOL there was no update at this stage, but once any new leads arise, the public will be informed.
The Association of South African Quantity Surveyors described the couple as having a lifelong passion for travel, camping, and the outdoors. It further described them as warm, soft-hearted people who shared a close bond with relatives and a deep appreciation for South Africa’s natural beauty.
“Ernst was a respected Quantity Surveyor and co-founder of Van Rensburg Marais & Associates, and a long-standing member of the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors until his retirement in 2018. Together, Ernst and Dina built a life defined by hard work, a love for the outdoors, and enduring devotion to one another. The Association has extended its heartfelt condolences, joining family, friends, and the Mossel Bay community in mourning the loss of a couple remembered for their kindness, humility, and shared love of life,” the Association said.
Since the murders, SANParks said it was already rolling out additional safety measures in parts of the Nxanatseni North Region. The interventions include deploying additional rangers and monitoring teams in identified high-risk areas, as well as strengthening surveillance and early warning technology systems.
robin.francke@iol.co.za
IOL