Cape Town – Tourists were reportedly caught in the crossfire when a group of alleged armed poachers opened fire at animals earlier this week.
Reports indicated that the tourists were wildlife sightseeing on a boat on the eastern shores of the Jozini/Pongolapoort Dam on the southern border between South Africa and eSwatini when unknown suspects started shooting at the animals.
According to IOL, KwaZulu-Natal police were now investigating cases of attempted murder.
“It is also reported that after realising that they were being watched, the suspects allegedly shot randomly at the people on the boat
“No one was reported injured and police investigations continue,” the report quoted police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda as saying.
The Citizen, reported that a group of nearly 20 armed men was linked to the recent slaughter of elephants and other illegal poaching activities around Jozini Dam.
The report said in recent months, several elephant carcasses had been discovered after a herd of more than 70 elephants wandered during a severe drought more than seven years ago.
DA MPL and provincial party spokesperson on environmental affairs, Heinz de Boer condemned the attack on the tourists and elephants and appealed for national intervention, the report said.
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“Armed groups of poachers have now completely laid siege to the eastern shores of the lake, with several elephant carcasses recently found, while dozens of gunshots have also been reported in the region,” the report quoted de Boer as saying.
Pongola Game Reserve Wildlife monitor Suzette Boshoff, who was on the boat at the time of the attack, said it was by sheer luck they were able to escape the heavily armed men who shot at them. “, reported News24.
She said they escaped the shots by ducking inside the boat in broad daylight, adding that poachers in the area had become so arrogant that they even called local communities to collect elephant meat after their kill.
At least 20 elephants had been killed recently in the area, the report said.
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
