A visitor to the Kruger National Park fell victim to a remote jamming incident at the Malelane Gate earlier this week which has prompted investigations by the police and SANParks. Suné Eloff, was reportedly robbed of her camera equipment and other valuables on Sunday, the 16th of October.
According to her the incident happened in front of security guards and other tourists at the gate when they left their vehicle and presumed it was locked.
Over social media Eloff explained that she had double locked the vehicle and suspects who were driving a blue Hyundai Getz came from behind them, drove over the curb, and parked their vehicle next to theirs.
She said that her friends attempted to pursue the suspects when they noticed that they had just stolen from their vehicle but the suspects sped away and in the process dropped one of the cameras.
The South African National Parks (SANParks) in a post on Facebook said that they have noted with concern the report by the tourist of an incident of car jamming at Malelane Gate. They urged tourists visiting the park to be extra vigilant and to ensure that vehicles were locked whenever they left them unattended.
Last year, KNP management said it was made aware of several remote jamming incidents at the Phabeni Gate and although no formal complaints were received, steps were taken to investigate the incidents.
Earlier this month, a German tourist Jörg Schnarr, who had arrived in South Africa on the 20th of September, died in a botched hijacking near the Numbi Gate entrance of the KNP.
The accused, Napoleon Joseph Nyalunga (35) appeared in the kaBokweni Magistrates’ Court on charges related to murder, attempted murder, and attempted hijacking on Wednesday, the 19th of October.
His case was postponed to the 28th of October for a formal bail hearing which the state would oppose according to the Mpumalanga National Prosecuting Authority’s spokesperson, Monica Nyaswu.
Schnarr, his wife Vera, Reiner Nuchter, and his wife Andrea, were travelling to Mdluli Safari Lodge when a group of people attacked them. Schnarr was shot through the window of the rented Hyundai Staria they were travelling in.
