By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Willie Aucamp, has welcomed the swift arrest of a third suspect in connection with the murder of two tourists in the northern region of the Kruger National Park last month.
The bodies of Ernst (71) and Dina (73) Marais from Mossel Bay were found with stab wounds on 22 May in the Levubu River after they were reported missing. They were last seen at a picnic site earlier in the week before failing to return.
The suspect was arrested on Friday, 12 June 2026 in Zimbabwe through cross border cooperation between South African, Mozambican and Zimbabwean law enforcement agencies.
This arrest follows the apprehension of the first two suspects in Mozambique in early June, while the third suspect initially evaded capture. Through the coordinated efforts of law enforcement agencies, he was subsequently tracked down and arrested in Zimbabwe. Like his co-accused, the third suspect will now be processed in accordance with the applicable legal procedures, including the applicable extradition proceedings.
“This arrest demonstrates that our commitment to tracking down and apprehending every individual involved in this tragic crime was unwavering and resolute,” said Aucamp.
The Minister added, “I really want to commend the effective and efficient collaborative efforts of the South African Police Service (SAPS), SANParks Rangers, Mozambique’s Criminal Investigation Directorate, and the Gonarezhou National Parks Rangers who effected the arrest of the third suspect and later handed him to the Zimbabwe Police.”
“I’ve said it before: we can achieve so much more if we pool our resources, collaborate and cooperate in fighting cross border crime,” said the Minister.
Aucamp, together with SANParks management, emphasised that these arrests should serve as a clear warning to anyone contemplating criminal activity within the Kruger National Park that such actions will be met with the full force of the law and that those responsible will be relentlessly pursued and brought to justice.
He once again extended condolences to the Marais family and reaffirmed government’s commitment to ensuring that those responsible are held accountable. We will do everything in our power to ensure that such a tragedy does not happen again.”