Tourists robbed at gunpoint in Kosi Bay

Police have launched a massive search for men who robbed tourists of valuables and cars in Kosi Bay in northern KwaZulu-Natal on Monday morning.

Several men held up three armed security guards at gunpoint and led them to a chalet at Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife's (EKZNW) Kosi Bay camp early on Monday morning.

According to a statement issued by EKZNW on Monday afternoon, tourists were woken at gunpoint and forced to hand over cellphones, cash and the keys to their two Isuzu double cab vehicles.

The tourists and guards were then locked into various rooms while the robbers fled in the two vehicles.


Kosi Bay, was until last year, used by car syndicates to smuggle stolen cars into Mozambique. The situation was however contained when Mozambique allowed South African police into the country to seal off smuggling routes.

Manguzi police believed that the two vehicles were still in South Africa as the border fence separating South Africa and Mozambique had not been cut.

iSimangaliso Authority CEO Andrew Zaloumis said: "It is deeply disturbing that a problem that has lain dormant for several years is now resurfacing."

EKZNW CEO Bandile Mkhize said in a statement his organisation viewed the incident in a serious light, and that it affected tourism in the entire region.