Men accused of kidnapping German tourist in Graskop to apply for bail
The German tourist was assisted immediately with medical care and continued with his trip.
George Maputla (46) and Alfred Khumalo (51), the two men accused of the robbery and kidnapping of a German tourist, will apply for bail on Thursday November 14.
They made a brief appearance in the Pilgrim’s Rest Magistrate’s Court on November 7 and were remanded in custody for their next appearance for bail application on Thursday.
The two was arrested on November 4 while travelling in a Hyundai SUV, following an attack on, and the kidnapping of the German tourist. This took place when the tourist had withdrawn cash from an ATM at a fuel station in Graskop.
A Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Brigadier Donald Mdhluli, a said public citizen alerted the police of the ordeal.
Mdhluli said the suspects were cornered and apprehended in some nearby bushes. They rescued the victim, who had suffered some injuries during the incident. He said preliminary investigations revealed that the vehicle used in the commission of the crime was a rental car.
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The COO of the Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism (KLCBT), Linda Grimbeek, said the victim was assisted through the victim support channels.
“He was transferred for private medical care and was then discharged after a day. He and his wife are regular tourists to South Africa and they wished to continue with their trip. However, they were pleased about the assistance they received and relieved that the men were arrested and thatthe law will take its course. The KLCBT is looking forward to see the outcome of the case,” Grimbeek said.
