/ 20 September 2000

POLICE PROBE RANGER’S GRISLY DEATH

POLICE are investigating whether a missing Kruger National Park field ranger was murdered before being eaten by wild animals. Field ranger Salamoa Mongwe’s torn clothes, identity book, boots and bank card were found in bloodstained grass near the staff quarters on September 4. There were signs of leopard and hyena in the area and bits of flesh found at the scene have been sent for forensic tests. Police are investigating allegations that Mongwe was about to divorce his wife for another woman and that he may have been murdered before wild animals ate him. Mongwe was last seen alive on September 1 when he visited his children in Bushbuckridge.Police said that although wild animals often entered Skukuza, field rangers could usually chase them away, and it was seldom that attacks on humans were reported. – African Eye News Service