News

South African National Parks (SANParks) announced today that circumstances around the death of Shaik Adam Shabir Ammed, 59, from eMkhondo (formerly Piet Retief) are being investigated by the South African Police, however, initial eyewitness accounts indicate that the family parked close to the Malelane reception area and the children ran past the bridge into the bush whereupon an individual elephant from a nearby herd charged them. The deceased rushed to assist the children and that is when he was chased and trampled by one of the animals. He succumbed to his injuries on the scene.

SANParks would like to reiterate that the incident is regrettable and unfortunate, but calls on the public to refrain from speculating, until the police have finalised their report and to allow the family to mourn their loved one in dignity.

On the day of the incident, the animal responsible for the death could not be identified as there were several of them in the vicinity and they immediately moved away while people were trying to save the life of the deceased

Management continues to offer heartfelt condolences to the Ammed family and wishes them strength in this difficult time.