By Stephanie Saville and Sibusiso Mboto
Police believe a botched robbery, and not an assassination, led to the death of world renowned Anglo-Zulu War historian, tourism authority and battle site guide David Rattray.
Police are adamant that a land claim dispute was not the the motive for Rattray's murder at his Fugitive's Drift lodge in northern KwaZulu-Natal on Friday. Their investigations tended to a robbery gone wrong - although nothing was taken.
But Rattray's friend and fellow tour guide, Neville Worthington, said lodge staff had expressed concern that the killing may have been a revenge attack as Rattray had dismissed staff a week before the killing. Worthington said that while Rattray was a friendly person, he was also a strict disciplinarian.
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'The whole community is shocked' "Whether it was black or white staff members, David expected the same level of professionalism from everyone, and would not blink when it came to reprimanding staff members," he said.
Worthington found it odd that only the gunman, who had fired the three fatal shots, had covered his face with a balaclava. "The five whose faces were uncovered were not recognised by any of the staff who saw them, or Nicky (Rattray's wife).
"The whole community is shocked. David was a humanitarian who had improved conditions at local schools and worked well with the surrounding tribal groups."
On Sunday, police were conducting ballistic and fingerprint tests in a bid to uncover clues about Rattray's killers.
KZN Organised Crime Unit Head Director Johan Booysen said a team of detectives have been at the scene since Friday.
'At this stage we do not have any suspects' He said police were exploring all avenues. "We have concluded our examination of the scene and the post mortem has been done. At this stage we do not have a motive for the killing, but we are looking at all avenues.
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