Two undocumented Mozambican immigrants have been arrested for the murder of Dina Marais, 73, and Ernst Marais, 71, inside the Pafuri section of the Kruger National Park. The couple’s stolen Ford Ranger has been recovered. Image: Supplied/SANParks
Two Mozambican nationals have been arrested for the murder of Dina and Ernst Marais inside the Kruger National Park. The two suspects aged 32 and 33 are undocumented immigrants. This Kruger National Park murder arrest brings the first breakthrough in a case that shocked South Africa when the elderly Mossel Bay couple were found stabbed to death in the remote Pafuri section of the park on 22 May 2026.
Kruger National Park Murder Arrest: Who Was Arrested
Police confirmed the arrest of two Mozambican nationals in connection with the murders. Both suspects are undocumented immigrants. The first suspect is 32 years old. The second suspect is 33 years old. Furthermore, police confirmed that the couple’s stolen green Ford Ranger bakkie has been recovered. The vehicle had been missing since the murders were discovered on Friday 22 May 2026.
What Happened to Dina and Ernst Marais
Dina Marais, 73, and her husband Ernst Marais, 71, from Mossel Bay in the Western Cape, entered the Kruger National Park through the Pafuri Gate on Sunday 17 May 2026. They were last seen alive at the Pafuri picnic site on Wednesday 20 May 2026. Camp staff raised the alarm on Thursday evening when the couple failed to return. SANParks launched a search operation involving ground teams and a helicopter.
Other tourists discovered the bodies on Friday 22 May 2026. They were found floating near Cross Corner where the Levubu and Limpopo Rivers meet. Both victims had suffered multiple stab wounds to their upper bodies. Their green Ford Ranger bakkie was missing from the scene.
Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Willie Aucamp described it as the first incident of its kind in the park’s history. SANParks CEO Rey Thakhuli expressed shock and sadness at the discovery.
The Investigation That Led to the Arrests
Investigators had suspected from early in the inquiry that the suspects had fled across the border into Mozambique. The Pafuri section of the Kruger National Park borders both Zimbabwe to the north and Mozambique to the east. As a result, cross-border coordination was a critical component of the investigation. The Border Management Authority was among the agencies that responded to the scene shortly after the bodies were discovered.
Police tracked the suspects across the border. Furthermore, the recovery of the stolen Ford Ranger alongside the arrests suggests investigators were able to follow a trail of evidence that ultimately led to the two Mozambican nationals.
The Broader Context
The arrests come at an extremely sensitive moment in South Africa’s relationship with Mozambique. The Mozambican government recently claimed that five of its citizens were killed in xenophobic violence in Mossel Bay over the weekend of 29 May 2026. Western Cape police confirmed only two Mozambican deaths. Furthermore, Malawi has announced a voluntary repatriation programme for its nationals in South Africa. The region’s diplomatic temperature is high.
However, the Kruger National Park murder case stands entirely apart from the anti-immigrant protests and related unrest. The killing of an elderly couple inside one of Africa’s most visited conservation areas by undocumented immigrants is a matter of criminal law. It will now be tested in a South African court.
What Happens Next
The two suspects are expected to appear before a court in connection with charges of murder and vehicle theft. A court date had not been confirmed at the time of publication. The investigation remains ongoing. Furthermore, additional suspects linked to the case have not been ruled out at this stage.
Mzansi Today Live will continue to follow this matter as it proceeds through the courts.
Read our earlier coverage: Elderly Mossel Bay Couple Found Stabbed to Death in Kruger National Park.
Editors Note The two arrested Mozambican nationals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. All charges referenced in this article are unproven and will be tested in court. Mzansi Today Live will update this article as further information becomes available.