Two of Kruger’s gates hit by thieves in a week

In the space of one week, two different Kruger National Park (KNP)  entrance gates were targeted by criminals. While little was taken at the Numbi Gate, the Orpen Gate did not fare so well and KNP management has promised to take steps to protect the park’s entrances.

On September 29, 2006 a number of unarmed men broke into the Numbi Entrance Gate, and attempted to force open the safe. Fortunately, they failed to access it, and left the scene with several ice creams and souvenir DVDs. Four days later, on October 3,2006, eight armed men overcame the armed guards at Orpen Gate, and forced a camp official to access the safe. A bundle of cash was stolen. Nobody was injured, and the South African Police Service, in cooperation with Sanparks Corporate Investigative Service (CIS), are currently investigating.

The case has been handed overto the lowveld serious and violent crimes unit. According to the unit's commander Capt Ockie Brits, “Weare working on leads and hope to make a breakthrough soon." Based on his past experience, he believes that the Orpen gate robbery is a case of copy cat crime, coming in the wake of the attack on Crocodile Bridge. In July a gang of five men with heavy weapons invaded the rest camp.

The gang held up the duty manager, forcing him to open the money and firearms safes. All thecash, as well as several firearms and ammunition, were stolen. Their vehicle was found abandoned on the road to Swaziland, but investigations subsequently led to the arrest of four men, who are still in custody.

Capt Britz said that they narrowly missed picking up the fifth identified suspect on Friday October 6, 2006.Dr Bandile Mkhize, executive director of Kruger, said that the robberies seemed “well-planned”but added that the KNP is “workingwith the (SAPS) to try and stop these incidents before they happen". He also reassured visitors and staff that security at the" more vulnerable gates” would-be increased.