A group of 10 domestic holidaymakers were left shaken and traumatised after their trip to Tsitsa Falls ended in harrowing fashion. A group of youths terrorised the party – which included four children – by throwing rocks at them from a great height. The incident has left one of the families involved at their wit’s end.

Family plans to emigrate South Africa after travel nightmare

The Tsitsa Falls are located in the north-east of the Eastern Cape, between the towns of Maclear and Mount Fletcher. The popular tourist attraction is famous for its stunning scenery, as water cascades down the sheer cliff face. However, environmental scientists Bridget and Michiel Jonker told the Daily Dispatch that they were subjected to a barrage of rocks, and they are now fully-prepared to leave South Africa:

“As a family, we have been considering emigration, mostly because of an unacceptable crime rate that threatens the personal security of our family. We recently had an attempted abduction of our oldest daughter by a vagrant in full view of a number of people in Johannesburg.” “After this incident at Tsitsa Falls, the decision to emigrate is clear and we will definitely be leaving SA to seek a safer future for our children elsewhere. This comes at great cost to ourselves and our friends and families but unfortunately we feel that we have no choice.” Jonker family statement

Tsitsa Falls: Tourism under threat

The couple describe the rocks as being “the size of tennis balls”, which ony narrowly missed them and their children – the youngest of which was just five-years-old. It’s understood that there were six perpetrators stood at the 100-metre vantage point, and local tourist authorities are working with the police to bring this gang to justice.

The tourism industry is a vital pillar of the South African economy. However, a spate of recent incidents have threatened to undermine this country’s unique allure. The stabbing of a Ukranian national up Table Mountain caused international headlines, and several tourists arriving at OR Tambo International Airport have been followed to their accomodation and robbed by groups of calculating criminals.