President Cyril Ramaphosa will lead centenary celebrations at one of South Africa’s most iconic conservation areas this weekend, as the Kruger National Park marks 100 years since its formal proclamation. However, the milestone has been marred by the brutal killing of an elderly couple from Mossel Bay.

Ernst (71) and Dina Marais (73) were stabbed to death near Crooks Corner in the northern section of the park last week, on 20 May. Their bodies were discovered two days later floating near the Levubu and Limpopo rivers by other tourists, who immediately alerted authorities.

The couple had checked into the Pafuri region on 17 May, driving a green Ford Ranger double cab. They were last seen at the Pafuri picnic site on the morning of 20 May. When they failed to return to camp, a search operation was launched.

According to Limpopo police, preliminary investigations revealed both victims sustained severe stab wounds to the upper body. The couple’s vehicle was missing, and rangers later found tyre tracks near the crime scene suggesting a vehicle had been driven through the bush, over a fence and into neighbouring Mozambique. No arrests have been made.

In response to the killings, SANParks has announced it will intensify policing and patrols throughout the two-million-hectare park ahead of this weekend’s centenary celebrations.

Tomorrow, Saturday 30 May, President Ramaphosa will address the official launch of the Kruger National Park centenary commemoration at Skukuza Rest Camp. The event, held under the theme “Our Heritage, Our Future”, will reflect on a century of conservation leadership, biodiversity protection and tourism development.

The park’s history dates back to 26 March 1898, when President Paul Kruger of the South African Republic proclaimed the Government Wildlife Park between the Sabie and Crocodile rivers. Following the South African War, the British re-proclaimed the area as the Sabi Game Reserve in 1902.

James Stevenson-Hamilton, appointed as the first warden in 1902, played a crucial role in the park’s evolution. Known by the Tsonga nickname “Skukuza” – meaning “he who sweeps clean” – Stevenson-Hamilton advocated for the nationalization of the reserve and served until his retirement in 1946. The main rest camp, where this weekend’s celebrations will take place, bears his nickname.

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On 31 May 1926, the National Parks Act formally established Kruger National Park, merging the Sabi and Shingwedzi game reserves. The name was proposed by Judge J.A.J. de Villiers to gain Afrikaner support for the conservation project.

The Presidency stated that the centenary provides an opportunity to honour the generations of rangers, scientists, communities and conservationists who contributed to the development and protection of one of the world’s most renowned protected areas. The commemoration also highlights the park’s resilience following recent flooding that affected infrastructure and tourism operations.

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However, the Kruger National Park continues to face significant conservation challenges, particularly rhino poaching. According to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, 175 rhinos were killed by poachers in Kruger during 2025, nearly double the 88 reported in 2024. This sharp increase occurred despite a 16% national decline in rhino poaching, with 352 rhinos killed across South Africa in 2025 compared to 420 in 2024.

The park remains one of South Africa’s leading conservation and tourism assets and continues to contribute significantly to biodiversity conservation, research, economic development and job creation.

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