A minicab taxi strike in Cape Town, which led to a fatal shooting of a UK tourist after he took a wrong turn due to blockades of the airport approach road, has been called off.
South Africa tourism minister Patricia de Lille expressed “shock and regret” about the news of the British visitor who was killed during the taxi protest in Nyanga, Cape Town.
He was named as Car Hao Teoh, a 40-year-old surgeon from Hertfordshire, who was travelling with his wife and son when he was killed last week.
The minister said: “I would like to convey my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the tourist who was killed in this incident, and I plead with the law enforcement agencies to find the perpetrators of this violent crime as soon as possible.
“This criminal behaviour goes against the overall spirit and nature of South Africans who are generally warm and welcoming.”
She is collaborating with various stakeholders, including the police, to review the county’s national tourist safety strategy.
This strategy includes a call to tourism industry leaders and South Africa’s security authorities to contribute to bolstering tourism safety and acting fast against acts of criminality.
The minister added: “South Africa is dedicated to ensuring a secure experience for all who live and visit our country.
“It is a land rich with unmatched beauty, cultural heritage, and a wide variety of tourism experiences and attractions.
“This, and more, is what visitors from various parts of the world come to experience in our country.
“It is important that we make sure visitors to our country feel safe to enjoy our wide open spaces, warm people, and an array of tourism experiences and quality-assured establishments and facilities.”