Couple killed in Kruger were celebrating wife’s birthday
Additional security measures are being implemented at the Kruger National Park following the ‘unprecedented’ murder of a Mossel Bay couple.
Dina Marais was visiting the Kruger National Park with husband Ernst (71) to celebrate her 73rd birthday when they became the first visitors to the park to be murdered.
The bodies of the Mossel Bay couple were found by tourists near Crooks Corner on Friday. Both were brutally stabbed.
Their green Ford Ranger remains missing.
The killing has sent shockwaves through the country and prompted SANParks to strengthen security efforts, while reassuring Kruger lovers that the park remains safe, despite the ‘unprecedented’ incident.
“In the more than two million-hectare park, which shares a combined 374km border with Mozambique and Zimbabwe, no similar occurrence has ever been recorded in its 100-year history,” said SANParks spokesperson JP Louw.
Car did not exit park
He explained that law enforcement officials in KNP confirmed that gate security cameras showed the missing car did not exit through any of the nine access gates or the two international border posts into Mozambique.
“In the vicinity of the crime scene, KNP rangers followed what they believed to be tyre tracks of the missing vehicle. The tracks indicate that a vehicle was driven through the bush, over the fence and into Mozambique. There is, however, no confirmation that the tracks belong to the missing vehicle,” said Louw.
Bush lovers
According to the Mossel Bay Advertiser, Dina and Ernst were known for their deep love of Mossel Bay, the South African bushveld and camping.
Their nephew, Hjalmar van Gessellen (53), said the couple did not have children, but shared a close bond with their family and a passion for travel and the outdoors.
“They had a house in Mossel Bay and another in Hoedspruit. They would spend the winter months in Hoedspruit and then return to Mossel Bay,” he said.
Van Gessellen said the couple had lived in Mossel Bay for several years.
“They were soft-hearted people who loved camping.”
He said Dina had celebrated her birthday on Tuesday (May 19), and the couple had been visiting the park to celebrate the occasion.
According to Van Gessellen, the couple also regularly travelled to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
Ernst’s sister lives in Plettenberg Bay and no funeral arrangements have yet been made.
Support for family
The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Willie Aucamp, phoned the family to convey his condolences, while SANParks board members, executive management and SAPS senior management visited to offer support.
“During the engagement, the family shared that the couple were long-standing, deeply committed visitors to Kruger – regular guests who strictly adhered to park rules and would never have placed themselves at risk by exiting their vehicle in a prohibited area,” added Louw.
Killings matter of national importance
Meanwhile, AfriForum has described the killings as a matter of ‘national importance’, warning that the brutal attack has sparked serious concern over visitor safety at one of South Africa’s most iconic tourism destinations.
AfriForum’s chief spokesperson, Jacques Broodryk, said the murders had sent shockwaves across the country.
“The safety of all people in South Africa, including tourists and visitors to national heritage sites, is a matter of national importance,” he added.
SANParks strengthens security measures
Louw said that SANParks is implementing additional risk mitigation measures across specific areas of concern in the Nxanatseni North Region. SANParks believes measures will reinforce visitor safety and operational readiness.
Key measures include:
- Deploying additional monitoring and ranger resources in specific areas of concern
- Enhancing technology systems to strengthen surveillance and early warning capabilities
“For security reasons, SANParks does not disclose operational security details. However, SANParks can confirm that existing technology systems assisted in identifying the vehicle linked to the missing tourists. This capability reflects SANParks’ sustained investment in modern technology to combat poaching and other illegal activities,” he added.
Louw said that SANParks will continue to upgrade and expand its technology infrastructure as part of its multi-year modernisation programme supporting both conservation and visitor safety in Kruger National Park.
Louw added that SANParks remains committed to supporting SAPS as the lead investigating authority, sharing verified information as it becomes available, and ensuring the safety of visitors, staff and wildlife.
SANParks emphasised that, despite the incident, KNP remains a very safe place to visit and work, with effective security protocols in place.
Police investigations are continuing.
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