Birdwatchers hijacked in KZN
2007-01-24 14:56
Johannesburg - Two tourists were hijacked while photographing birds at a game reserve near the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, conservation authorities said on Wednesday.
The hijacking - the sixth in the area since December 29 - happened at 15:30 on Tuesday.
"The men had just set up their equipment at Mkhuze Game Reserve and were photographing the prolific bird life in the area when five armed men approached them.
"The attackers forced them (tourists) into their Toyota Hilux and drove off," read an Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal media statement.
The tourists - from Amanzimtoti - were driven to the nearby border into Mozambique where they were forced out of the car.
"The vehicle was driven off with three hijackers... They were then forced to walk to various places until midnight when they managed to escape."
The tourists were found by field rangers who were searching for them after being alerted that they were missing.
"Both the Wetland Authority and Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife view this incident with extreme concern as it is the sixth hijacking in the region in less than a month."
The incident was taken to senior government officials by the conservation authorities.
- SAPA