The Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism (KLCBT) is implementing additional security measures on the Numbi road which leads to the Kruger National Park (KNP).

According to KLCBT chief operating officer, Linda Grimbeek, within the next two weeks the route will be totally covered by live surveillance in the form of cameras, backed up by immediate reaction units and deployment of the latest technology to aid surveillance and effective reaction.

“We have already ordered everything and are currently raising the additional funds to pay for it. It is roughly estimated that the total solution will cost in the region of R1m, in addition to what we have done up to now,” she said. Grimbeek also said KLCBT implemented private security patrols and cameras on the Numbi road in April 2022, to assist with safety.

She claims that there were no incidents until the murder of a German tourist on September 3.

“KLCBT immediately offered a reward of R50 000 that will lead to successful arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators. This was widely distributed in the communities, to sangomas and to taxi associations and it is certainly generating leads.”

“We are ready to roll out community tourism activities in the villages and we would like to focus on that, to ensure communities are benefitting from tourism activities around the Kruger National Park and also to help to reduce the very high unemployment rate in the area,” said Grimbeek.

The murder of German tourist, Jörg Schnarr, near White River has sent shock waves through Mpumalanga, as national and regional tourism authorities and NGOs demanded rapid solutions to the hijacking of the province’s tourism industry.

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

The Federal Republic of Germany’s ambassador to South Africa, Andreas Peschke, said, “This tragic incident has hit headlines across major German news portals and comes at an unfortunate time when tourism to South Africa is bouncing back after the pandemic.

“We are deeply saddened by this tragedy, but the crucial issue now is to work together with South African authorities to ensure that whoever comes to visit South Africa, can do so in a safe environment.”

The economic powerhouse that is Germany, is South Africa’s third biggest tourism market.