White River Hi-Tech ends Numbi Road patrols
Funding from the Tourism Business Council of South Africa came to an end on July 1.
Security patrols on the Numbi Road en route to the Kruger National Park (KNP) have been halted as of July 1 due to a lack of funding.
Following the announcement by Hi-Tech Security, the CEO of the Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism (KLCBT), Linda Grimbeek, dismissed allegations that the road is no longer safe.
“I can confirm that Hi-Tech White River can no longer patrol the road. Funding from the Tourism Business Council of South Africa ended on July 1. We are negotiating to obtain further funding, but with all the methods and proposals involved, the process is taking longer than expected. We hope the matter will be resolved over the next few weeks,” she said.
Grimbeek emphasised that it remains safe to travel on the Numbi Road and urged the public not to spread misinformation.
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That is not true. People are living in that area and businesses are also operating there. Hi-Tech merely wanted to inform the public why their officials would not be seen. We ask the public to be patient while we work towards a solution,” she said.
In a statement, Hi-Tech White River said:
“To our valued community: Please note that as of July 1, Hi-Tech White River Security will no longer be operating on the Numbi Road due to lack of funding to keep the project going. We are truly grateful for your trust and support – without it, we couldn’t have achieved the positive impact we did. We remain hopeful that funding will come through soon so we can continue the work. Until then, please be extra cautious on the Numbi Road, especially during the school holiday period. Thank you for believing in us.”
Grimbeek also called on businesses and individuals to contribute towards the resumption of patrols.
“The funding is not just for patrolling Numbi and other key roads, but also for broader security systems in the area, including CCTV cameras, monitoring, and investigations. All this requires capital we do not currently have, and we trust those who are able will collaborate with us on this project,” she added.
Hi-Tech White River began patrolling the Numbi Road on July 1, 2022, following an attack on German tourists travelling to the KNP. During the incident, Jörg Schnarr was shot and killed while driving a minibus along the road.
*This article was amended after it was published. Lowvelder apologises for any confusion caused.
