Jörg Schnarr died a hero on the Numbi road to the Kruger National Park according to German newspapers who continue to headline the murder of the 66-year-old.

Schnarr was fatally shot in the chest while on holiday with his wife, Vera, and their friends, Reiner and Andrea Nichter, en route to Mdluli Safari Lodge near the Kruger National Park’s (KNP) Numbi Gate.

Wednesday October 12’s edition of Fuldaer Zeitung, a regional daily German newspaper, suggested Schnarr might have saved the lives of his wife and two friends by reversing at speed into the school wall approximately 100m from where he had been shot.

This action could have bought vital time for community members and potential witnesses to arrive on the scene, thus deterring the assailants from further attacking Schnarr’s wife and their friends.

Schnarr was a highly respected member of his community and worked for the Diocese of Fulda in the Hesse region for almost 50 years.

He began his career as an administrative trainee and eventually became senior human resources director. He also held a part-time lecturer position at the Hessian Association of Administrative Schools for Labour and Civil Service Law and was a member of the Human Resources Commission of the Association of German Dioceses. He was also chairperson of Fulda Tennis Club TCB Johannisau.

Three people who were taken in for questioning by the police in connection with the murder have been released. According to SAPS, the three could not be linked to the crime.

The spokesperson for the minister of police, Lirandzu Themba, says, “They were released after they had provided reasonable information that will assist the investigation. We believe that with the information we obtained, the police will catch the criminals soon.”

On Friday Napoleon Joseph Nyalungu appeared in the KaBokweni Magistrate’s Court in connection with the murder. He is facing charges of murder, attempted murder and attempted hijacking.

According to Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism chief operating officer, Linda Grimbeek, within the next two weeks, the route will be totally covered by live surveillance in the form of cameras. The surveillance will be reinforced by immediate reaction units and the deployment of the latest technology.

“We have already ordered everything and are currently raising the additional funds to pay for these upgrades. The total solution will cost in the region of R1m, in addition to what we have done up to now,” she says.