Cops speedily arrest 3 after tourist, 74, killed

Provincial commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo Lieutenant-General Thembi Hadebe has commended police for the swift arrest of three suspects who allegedly assaulted and killed a male German tourist at the weekend.

The incident took place at Northam in the Waterberg district on Saturday.

According to police, the 74-year-old victim had departed from Botswana on Friday and driven to South Africa in a sedan.

He arrived at Lephalale in the Waterberg on Saturday morning and while on the road had offered a male hitchhiker a lift.

Along the way, the tourist asked the hitchhiker to help him find accommodation in North West before he proceeded with his tour across the country.

Preliminary reports indicated that the pair became friendly and the victim asked the hitchhiker to drive the vehicle. On arrival at the accommodation, the suspect suggested they go to a liquor outlet where they had a few drinks.

“That’s when the suspect informed his two friends that the elderly man is expecting a substantial amount of money from his family abroad.

“The suspect and his two friends drove with the unsuspecting victim to his place and on arrival, they tied him up and started to assault him while demanding his bank PIN code.

“They also searched him and took cash and other valuables,” said police on Sunday.

The three suspects removed the vehicle’s number plates and drove the tourist to Northam in Limpopo using a secluded gravel road.

When they reached a farm, two suspects dragged the victim from the vehicle and dumped him in the bush while the driver stayed in the vehicle.

Meanwhile, patrolling security officials noticed the vehicle parked at night without number plates. They stopped to investigate and noticed one of the suspect’s bloodstained T-shirt and notified the police.

“On arrival, the police started with initial investigations and the victim’s body was found in the bush.

“The two suspects had already fled the scene. An intelligence-driven operation was activated and the two were arrested in North West later in the evening in possession of some of the deceased’s belongings.”

The three, aged between 24 and 46, were expected to appear in the Northam Magistrate’s Court yesterday on charges that included murder. “We will work hard to secure a conviction,” said Hadebe. –