Mbombela (Nelspruit) – Zimbabwe police have arrested a 26-year-old Mozambican in connection with the highly publicised murder of an elderly couple in the Kruger National Park.
Mossel Bay residents, 71-year-old Ernst and 73-year-old Dina Marais, were murdered in the Kruger National Park last month.
Their bodies, with stab wounds, were discovered floating in the Levubu River by other visitors to the park on 20 May 2026.
The couple’s Ford 4×4 bakkie was missing.
In a regional investigation, police in Mozambique traced and arrested two suspects earlier this month.
The third suspect fled to Zimbabwe.
However, yesterday, Friday 12 June 2026, South African Police Service spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe announced that the third suspect in the Kruger National Park murders was arrested in Zimbabwe.
The vehicle belonging to the murdered couple was recovered during the arrest of the 26-year-old suspect, who has been identified as Macandze Lionel da Marta.
The suspect will be extradited to Mozambique, where he will join the other two co-accused, who were arrested in that country.
All the accused are expected to face trial in South Africa.
The arrests of the suspects were highlighted on Friday, 12 June 2026, at the two-day 31st Annual General Meeting of Chiefs of Police Sub-Committee/Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (SARPCCO) in Lilongwe, Malawi.
Speaking on the sidelines of the SARPCCO, South African Police Service (SAPS) Acting National Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane said the arrest of the suspect in Zimbabwe was a clear demonstration that criminals cannot evade justice by crossing borders.
The regional probe involved regional cooperation between SAPS, South African National Parks, the Criminal Investigation Directorate of the Republic of Mozambique (SERNIC), and the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
“This successful arrest underscores the strength of regional policing cooperation,” said Lieutenant General Dimpane.
“Through SARPCCO, SADC member countries continue to share intelligence, coordinate operations, and support one another in ensuring that criminals have no safe haven within our region.
“Our partnership with SERNIC and the Zimbabwean Police, once again, demonstrates that united law enforcement efforts are more effective in combating transnational crime.”
Lieutenant General Dimpane added: “Our message is clear: criminals will be pursued across borders, and through collective regional efforts, will be brought before the courts to answer for their crimes.”
