The Limpopo Tourism Agency (LTA) has reacted with anger and condemned the robbery of tourists who were visiting a private plot in Silonque, Phalaborwa, on 26 December 2019.
Limpopo Tourism Agency CEO, Sonto Ndlovu, said that any attack on tourists takes the province back on the strides made with the security cluster in ensuring that all tourists are safe in any place they visit in Limpopo.
“In our recent interaction with the Tourism industry we were clear that tourism safety is amongst the priorities that we have placed on our agenda. We were shocked by the manner of attack, the dispossession and threat to the lives of the tourists, it is unacceptable,” Ndlovu said.
It is understood that a group of tourists, including foreign nationals, were attacked and robbed at gunpoint at a Private Plot in Silonque.
The Police in Phalaborwa have launched a manhunt for three unknown suspects.
The three suspects allegedly entered the premises at Silonque plot under Phalaborwa policing area, pointed the tourists with firearms and demanded money and cell phones. They then left the scene using the victim’s rented Mercedes Benz ML which was later recovered.
The statement from SAPS further said: “The Provincial Commissioner of Limpopo, Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba has already assembled a team of investigators to track down the suspects and bring them to book. He further reassured everyone that the Memorandum of Understanding concluded between the South African Police Service and the Department of Tourism will make possible for the police to deal with any criminality targeting the tourists.”
The SAPS in Limpopo have also confirmed heightened police visibility in the affected area as a focal point and identified tourist destinations around the province to make the tourists feel safe.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact Lieutenant Colonel Richard Boshomane at 0798945501, the Crime Stop number 0860010111 or the nearest police station.
