LIMPOPO – The man was mauled by a group of lions on a private game reserve near Hoedspruit on Friday, 9 February.
Read more: Man attacked and killed by lions in Hoedspruit
According to police spokesperson Lt Col Moatshe Ngoepe, three suspected illegal poachers were attacked by a group of lions. During this attack, the deceased was killed and eaten by the lions while the other two suspects managed to escape the attack and fled back to their home country, Mozambique.
The deceased was positively identified on Tuesday, 13 February, at Maphutha Malatji Hospital Motuary in Namakgale outside Phalaborwa by his sister-in-law, who is staying in South Africa.
“The family member says she received a call from her family members in Mozambique, who were told by the other two suspects that the deceased was killed by lions in South Africa. She then went to the mortuary to identify him,” Ngoepe explained.
The deceased was identified as David Baloyi (50) from the Masingiri area in Mozambique.
Ngoepe says police found a hunting rifle and ammunition in the vicinity of the scene.
“Subsequent to the discovery of the suspect, police in Hoedspruit, outside Phalaborwa have since opened an inquest case for further investigations,” he concluded.
