The hijacked bakkie of the Marais couple, who were murdered near the Pafuri camp site in the Kruger National Park last week, was possibly driven through the bush into Mozambique. The murders, the first of their kind in the 100-year history of the park, have sent shockwaves through the country and abroad.
The bodies of Dina Marais (73) and Ernst Marais (71) were discovered at Crooks Corner on Friday, 22 May, by fellow tourists who were game-viewing in the area. They alerted SANParks rangers.
Preliminary findings indicate both victims had stab wounds to the upper body. The couple's green Ford Ranger double cab has not been found. The Marais couple, who resided in Mossel Bay, were regular visitors to the park and knew the area very well.
In a statement released by SANParks on Sunday, it said that gate security cameras confirmed that the missing vehicle 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 believe to be tyre tracks of the missing vehicle. The tracks point to a vehicle that was driven through the bush, over the fence and into Mozambique. There is, however, no confirmation that the tracks are of the missing vehicle,” the statement reads.
SANParks also implemented additional risk mitigation measures across specific areas of concern in the Nxanatseni North Region. The measures include deploying additional monitoring and ranger resources in certain areas. Technology will also be used to strengthen surveillance and early-warning capabilities, SANParks said.
“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,” the statement reads.
Is Pafuri a safe place?
The general consensus among regular visitors to the area is that the Pafuri region is one of the safest places in the park. It is an area frequently visited by birdwatchers, as it hosts some rare bird species such as the Pel's fishing owl and the racket-tailed roller.
The drive between the Pafuri picnic spot and Crooks Corner is considered a classic route. The area regularly produces 300-plus species counts over a few days, which is exceptional for any site in South Africa. Serious birders often describe Pafuri as a distinct biome rather than simply the northern end of the Kruger — the mix of species from Mozambique and Zimbabwe that spill across the unfenced lowveld makes it unlike anywhere else in the park.
This is most likely what attracted the Marais couple. Although SANParks did not disclose at which camp the couple stayed, it was probably Punda Maria or Shingwedzi. From Punda Maria, visitors would often take the dirt road that goes past Klopperfontein Dam before it links up with the main road to Pafuri.
The couple was last seen on Wednesday morning, 20 May, at the Pafuri picnic spot. When the couple did not return to camp that night, it triggered concern and the following evening a search operation was launched.
It is quite likely that the Marais couple would have opted to visit Crooks Corner after stopping at the Pafuri picnic site. Normally it is a very scenic drive of around eight kilometres along the Luvuvhu River, but the floods earlier this year washed away parts of this road, and it is closed to traffic. The couple may have opted to return to the main road and travel via the tar road leading to the border post. Just before the SAPS station at the Pafuri border post, a road turns left, leading to the lookout point at Crooks Corner, where visitors can climb out of their vehicles and watch the Luvuvhu River flowing into the Limpopo.
The Pafuri area is not known for excessive rainfall, but this year the situation was dramatically different. The far north-eastern parts of Limpopo received somewhere in the range of 500-700mm between January and March alone — potentially exceeding the entire annual average in just three months. This also means that a semi-arid region is currently lush and green, with dense bush.
It also means that the area offers hiding places for criminals, especially at Crooks Corner. Whereas SANParks staff are normally on duty at the Pafuri picnic site, there are no staff at the more secluded lookout point where the two rivers meet.
A new cross-border route for vehicle thieves?
Following the murder of the Marais couple and the disappearance of their vehicle, speculation was rife that syndicates may be using the Kruger National Park as an escape route, particularly into Mozambique.
Over the past year, several cases were reported of stolen vehicles recovered near the country’s northern border. In February this year, during a multidisciplinary operation in the Masisi area, a Toyota Fortuner was recovered after it had become trapped in the Limpopo River. It was confirmed to have been stolen in Witbank. A Nissan Patrol stolen in Gauteng was also recovered. Masisi is the closest residential area to Pafuri and is situated just outside the entrance to the park.
Further west, the Madimbo corridor along the Zimbabwe border has been identified by authorities and community members as a known route for smuggling stolen vehicles, with syndicates reportedly using drones to monitor police movements. The Muswodi area near Niani, outside Musina, has similarly been described as a long-established gateway for hijacked vehicles heading to both Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
However, the syndicates rely on the vehicles being able to cross the Limpopo River, something that has been almost impossible in the past few months. A path through the Kruger is, however, an unlikely alternative, as the thieves would have to either enter through a gate or make their way through dozens of kilometres of bushy terrain.
For now, the hunt is on to find the murderers
The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has mobilised a team of senior investigators to lead the Marais murder and hijacking case and said resources have been deployed to trace those responsible.
Police have urged anyone with information to contact Lieutenant Colonel Rodney Ndou or Crime Stop on 08600 10111, or to use the MySAPS app anonymously.
SANParks said in a statement that it will assist and support SAPS as the lead investigating authority, and will share verified information as it becomes available. Park authorities also assured visitors that the Kruger National Park remains a very safe place to visit and work in, with effective security protocols in place.
“SANParks will continue to upgrade and expand technology infrastructure as part of its multi-year modernisation programme supporting both conservation and visitor safety in Kruger National Park,” it said.