The Toyota Fortuner recovered from the Limpopo River in the Masisi policing area after it was confirmed stolen in Witbank, Mpumalanga, earlier this month.
On Friday, the bodies of two elderly people were found near a river in Kruger National Park.
When camp staff discovered the Mossel Bay tourists had not returned to camp, they started looking for them on Thursday night, according to SANParks. It has now come to light that the reason behind their killings may be related to a more significant problem facing the nation: car smuggling.
A Kruger National Park spokesperson confirmed that the victims' bakkie has not been located. Following an initial investigation, park rangers discovered tyre tracks leading to where the vehicle had exited the park through the Mozambique fence.
The motive appears to be vehicle theft, as the victims' bakkie is missing. A park spokesperson stated that an incident of this magnitude is unprecedented in the park's 100-year history.
