A British woman was shot dead and her husband wounded during an attack at a hotel in Pilgrims Rest on Tuesday night, Mpumalanga police said on Wednesday.
Inspector Leonard Hlathi said the couple, who were touring South Africa, returned to their room around 7.45pm after having dinner at the Royal Hotel. The attacker followed Jon Conway and his wife Diane, both aged about 60 and from Warminster, Wiltshire, to their room.
The man demanded money from the couple and Jon Conway refused to hand over cash. The attacker fired three shots hitting Diane Conway in the stomach. She died at the scene.
Her husband, a retired army major, was shot in the face and taken to the Nelspruit Private Hospital where he was in a satisfactory condition, Hlathi said. He said the attacker fled the scene empty-handed. Two 9mm cartridges and two projectiles were recovered by police.
The provincial police commissioner, Eric Nkabinde, and his management set up a team of four top detectives who will investigate the matter. ”I totally condemn this brutal attack. We will not rest until this suspect is arrested and convicted,” Nkabinde said. He appealed to members of the community to assist the police in the investigation, but said the public must not confront the attacker.
An amount of up to R50 000 has been made available for anyone who can give police information leading to the arrest and conviction of the attacker. – Sapa