South Africa’s Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has expressed outrage following the death of a German tourist who was one of four visitors from the European country who were attacked on Monday near Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga province.
The tourist was fatally shot by unknown assailants when the group was attacked as it made its way to a lodge.
Sisulu met with the family members on Thursday to express her deepest condolences.
“I also call on law enforcement agencies to leave no stone unturned in bringing the perpetrators of the crime to book,” the minister said.
She said South Africa’s tourism industry “has rallied around the family to give the assurance that all measures are being taken to prevent such an incident from happening again.”
“The Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism has also issued a R50,000 (about US$2,840) reward to anyone who may come up with information that will lead to the arrest of the perpetrators” said Sisulu
Attacks on tourists are a common occurance in South Africa which has a high crime rate, with the minister noting that “tourism safety has been consistently identified across a number of studies, media and crime reports as a challenge which threatens tourism growth and therefore, foreign direct investment, visitor spend and employment.”
JN/APA