Reports that the Numbi Gate to the Kruger National Park will be closed have been refuted by the Minister of Tourism, Lindiwe Sisulu.
She clarified in a media statement that the issue of closing the gate had been raised on Tuesday (October 11) when the Department of Tourism briefed the Select Committee on Committee on Trade and Industry, Economic Development, Small Business Development, Tourism, Employment and Labour on the government’s collaborative approach to ensuring tourist safety.
Sisulu explained: “The closing of the Numbi Gate outside the Kruger National Park was raised by the Committee after a vehicle carrying German tourists came under attack and the driver was fatally shot.”
The Democratic Alliance’s Tim Brauteseth suggested that the Numbi Gate should be closed for the time being, something the Minister said would be considered.
The Kruger National Park falls under the jurisdiction of South African National Parks and the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries.
Sisulu, while strongly condemning the attack on the German tourists, noted that the Committee had been briefed on the plans of the Department of Tourism and the collective public stakeholders to address the safety of tourists ahead of the December holidays.
At the briefing it was revealed that a number of government departments, including Police, Social Development, Justice as well as the National Prosecuting Authority, were on board to work with the Department on tourists’ safety.
The Committee asked the Department to consider the closure of the Numbi Gate as well the distribution of information on safety and security tips at key tourism hot spots in the area.
The private sector has also undertaken to step up security on the road. Fundraising is under way for more improved surveillance and immediate reaction as part of a raft of additional measures to be implemented over the next two weeks to ensure the safety of tourists.
About R1 million is needed to implement these measures and the Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism is focused on fundraising efforts. COO of the Chamber, Linda Grimbeek, is appealing to industry to assist where they can.
The new measures will supplement the measures already in play, including the deployment of private security patrols and cameras.
