Numbi Gate in Kruger National Park. Picture: Twitter
A fresh call for the police to prioritise the safety and security of tourists has been made after the fatal shooting of a German tourist in White River, Mpumalanga, on Monday.
Jörg Schnarr, 67, was shot dead, allegedly by a group of criminals on Numbi Road, near White River on Monday afternoon at about 4.30pm.
The DA said the killing could have been avoided if the government was doing the basics.
DA MP Manny de Freitas warned that a single crime incident could have devastating repercussions for international tourism.
“The death of the German tourist has made front-page news in Germany and will no doubt cause a dip in tourism from Germany, which is one of our major tourism markets.
“The fact that there is a lack of security and police presence in the area is particularly concerning when one takes into account that there has been unrest, barricading of Kruger National Park gates and protest action in the area and throughout the park in the last four weeks,” De Freitas said.
He has since called on the ministers of police and tourism to announce their plans to protect tourist areas in the country.
“These ministers must ensure South Africans that they are doing everything in their power to prevent a repeat of this tragic incident and that the criminals will be caught and apprehended as soon as possible,” he said.
The Freedom Front Plus has also called on the government to take attacks on Numbi Road seriously.
“Over the past few months, numerous visitors of the Kruger National Park were robbed after they had exited the park via the Numbi Gate,“ said the party’s Werner Weber.
A manhunt was launched, while the Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism also offered a R50 000 reward for information that could aid the investigation. Police Minister Bheki Cele’s spokesperson Lirandzu Themba said three people of interest were in police custody in connection with the matter.
Cele visited the crime scene on Wednesday afternoon where he called for a joint intervention by the government, tourism role players and communities.
Transport Minister Lindiwe Sisulu’s office also revealed that she had spent time with the group of German tourists that were attacked before they returned home on Wednesday.
Sisulu was expected to address the media on Wednesday evening.