South Africa Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu said Tuesday that she was “saddened” by the fatal shooting of a German tourist in Mpumalanga.
Reports of the incident said the tourist was shot dead in White River, Mpumalanga.
The cold-blooded murder was reported on Monday.
A group of four tourists was on its way to Numbi Gate, when armed hijackers pounced and tried to take their car.
However, the tourists locked their car doors and tried to get away.
The hijackers callously fired at the driver as he attempted to reverse.
The driver was hit in the upper body before he crashed the Hyundai H1 into a nearby wall.
Minister Sisulu said: “I would like to convey my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the tourist who was killed in this incident.
“I also call on law enforcement agencies to leave no stone unturned in bringing to book the perpetrators of this heinous crime.”
The minister said she will engage her Cabinet colleagues in the security cluster to discuss plans to ensure the safety of tourists when they visit South Africa.
While condemning the murder, Sisulu said her department will not be deterred from “inviting the world to come and ‘Live Again’ with us”.
Meanwhile, the three survivors of the attack were recuperating.
The German Embassy is assisting the victims and says it will assist with the transfer of the body.
The South African National Parks (SANParks) said it has extended condolences to the family and friends of the German Tourist who was fatally shot in a hijacking on the Numbi Road, en route to their lodge in the KNP.
“Our thoughts are with the family as they process this senseless and tragic loss,” said Kruger National Park (KNP) spokesperson, Ike Phaahla.
“We are deeply saddened by the escalation of crime and violence to this terrible end, which not only threatens the lives of our visitors, but also the livelihoods of the people living around our Parks.
“This is a huge setback for the tourism sector and the country.
“We have been working with the Lowveld Business chamber and the National Department of Tourism to promote and market tourism products to our overseas customers and this latest criminal act undermines our efforts to restore the sector to pre-covid days.”
The Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism has offered a reward of R50 000 for information leading to the arrest of the hijackers.
