Police Minister Bheki Cele has said that police have found the getaway car used in the fatal shooting of a 67-year-old German tourist who was driving to the Kruger National Park with his wife and two other passengers on Monday, October 3.

Cele said information from a witness to the crime had led to the discovery of the vehicle used by the three armed suspects who perpetrated the murder.  

“We have managed to find the getaway car from the crime scene. We believe that we are on track with the witness, who can give us good quality of information,” Cele told media over the weekend. 

Cele clarified that the three people who were held in custody by police in connection with the suspected botched hijacking were witnesses and not suspects. 

Last Wednesday, Minister of Tourism, Lindiwe Sisulu, said Cele had confirmed to her that the trio were suspects and had been arrested for the crime. 

Cele has since clarified that the ‘persons of interest’ had provided information to the police as witnesses, and had then been released. 

“We are very satisfied that we are very close to dealing with the matter now. We are very sure that with the information we have found now, we are much better placed to crack the case.”

The tourists’ vehicle was ambushed on the road to the Numbi Gate in Kruger National Park. Cele said police were also questioning community members who came to the scene immediately after the gunshot, causing the perpetrators to flee. 

“The reason we have for them not taking anything was the response of the people who came to see what was happening. We hope that those people who gathered quickly are also people that will help us.”