Police have made a breakthrough in the investigation into the murder of an elderly Mossel Bay couple whose bodies were discovered in the Kruger National Park last month.
Ernst Marais, 71, and his wife Dina, 73, were found dead on Friday, 22 May, after being reported missing several days earlier.
Their bodies were discovered floating at Cross Corner, along the banks of the Levubu River near the Limpopo River inside the national park.
According to police, the couple entered the park on 17 May and were expected to stay at the Pafuri campsite. Concern was raised when they failed to return as planned, prompting a search operation.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Ernst Marais had sustained stab wounds to his upper body, while Dina Marais suffered severe injuries inflicted with a sharp object.
Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba said two Mozambican nationals, aged 32 and 33, have since been arrested in Mozambique and linked to the crime.
"The arrests were effected through coordinated cross-border investigations conducted by the South African Police Service, Mozambican law enforcement authorities, SANParks and other role players," Mashaba said.
He said the suspects were positively identified following the recovery of the couple's stolen vehicle.
"The vehicle was recovered in Chokwe, Mozambique, on 26 May 2026. The recovery of the vehicle led to the arrest of the first suspect in Chokwe on Monday, 1 June 2026. The second suspect was subsequently arrested in Xai-Xai city, Gaza province, on Tuesday, 2 June 2026," Mashaba explained.
The suspects are expected to appear in court in Maputo on Wednesday, where they will face charges of murder and hijacking.
Police say additional charges may be added as investigations continue.
The arrests mark a significant development in a case that shocked South Africans and raised concerns about safety in and around the Kruger National Park.