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Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
TWO men and a child aged about seven years were killed by a hippopotamus near the New Limpopo Bridge while attempting to illegally cross from Zimbabwe into South Africa.
The incident occurred on Wednesday night.
A minor, who survived the encounter with severe injuries, alerted passersby of the attack the following morning.
Limpopo police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Ronel Otto said the victims were among a group of people who were crossing into South Africa through an illegal entry point.
She said the rest of the group fled.
“Among the deceased were two men and a child estimated to be aged between seven and nine years. The bodies have been taken to Musina hospital mortuary. We’ve also opened an inquest docket,” she said.
Lt Col Otto said one of the survivors, a minor alerted a passerby in the morning who then made a report to police.
She said police were yet to identify the deceased who were undocumented.
“Indications are that the victims were among a group of alleged undocumented foreigners attempting to enter the country by crossing the Limpopo River at Beit Bridge Border post.
“Along the way they were attacked by hippopotamus, which killed three of them,” said Lt Col Otto.
She said the injured boy had been taken to Musina hospital, adding that his condition was stable.
“It’s advisable for people to go through the official channels to ensure that they get the correct papers and documentation to enter the country legally. Too many people die trying to enter the country illegally. Some through drowning, attacks by animals or heartless criminals who rape, rob or kill,” she said.
In May this year two people were killed by a hippopotamus while trying to illegally cross into South Africa.
Both victims were criminals who were in the habit of waylaying and robbing border jumpers at the spillway and Dulibadzimu gorges.
A few weeks ago a gang of 18 men including suspected border jumpers and fishermen teamed up and killed a crocodile which attacked them at an illegal crossing point along the Limpopo River.
The incident occurred near the spillway which is one of the popular illegal crossing points some 900 metres east of the Alfred Beit-Bridge.
There are an estimated 200 illegal crossing points between South Africa and Zimbabwe’s boundary line.
Online Reporter