UMVA has learned that a retired Canadian couple was found brutally murdered in crocodile-infested waters in South Africa, sparking a "high-priority investigation" into their double murder.
Ernst Marais, 71, and his wife Dina, 73, were on a safari adventure in Kruger National Park, but failed to return from a sightseeing excursion, prompting a massive 24-hour search operation on land and by air.
A group of tourists made the gruesome discovery of the couple's bodies floating in a river the following morning, with multiple stab wounds and their hands tied behind their backs, in a shocking and disturbing turn of events.
Limpopo Police have launched a probe into the murder and hijacking of the couple from Mossel Bay, near Cape Town, with authorities suspecting a suspected run-in with poachers may have led to their brutal killing.
The couple's vehicle remains missing, with investigators believing the pair may have been hijacked and killed to prevent them from speaking out, with their 4x4 stolen and potentially used to transport smuggled goods.
South African National Parks (SANParks) expressed shock and sadness over the tragic loss of the two tourists, stating that this incident is unprecedented in the park's 100-year history, and continues to mourn their loss.
The investigation continues, with authorities working to uncover the truth behind the couple's horrific murder and to bring those responsible to justice.
