Robbery behind SA man’s death in Malawi

Published Jul 5, 2015

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Durban - A Ballito man travelling through Africa with friends has been shot dead at a campsite in Malawi by men who made off with a money bag and thousands of rand in camera equipment.

Harry Wakeford had been travelling with Bruce Warwick Chapman, executive director of information at the DA’s head office and a former Glenwood councillor, fellow Ballito resident Richard Chapman, Geoff Richardson from Pretoria, and Anne Croasdale.

The group set out in May to travel through Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, and Rwanda to the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

On Wednesday, the vehicle in which they were travelling in broke down. The group decided to set up camp nearby at the Muftwa lodge in Karonga, Malawi.

On Friday night, after having dinner together and retiring, they were awakened by Croasdale’s screams as three men tried to enter her tent.

“All of us quickly jumped out of our tents and Harry’s was the closest to Anne’s,” Chapman said. “A scuffle ensued and there was a shot that went off which didn’t hit anyone. It was difficult to tell what was going on because it was so dark.

“Then there was a second shot. When we looked around, we realised that Harry had been shot in the chest. We took cover. By the time we got to Harry, he was dead.”

Baffled and shocked, Chapman said he believed that the motive for the killing was theft.

“The men managed to get away with Anne’s money bag as well as our camera equipment, worth thousands of rand, so they definitely came just to rob us.

“Harry died defending us. He heard Anne shouting for help and he must have followed his instincts to defend her and us”.

The group called for help from police. Chapman said that the authorities were efficient. They were taken to a hospital, where Wakeford was pronounced dead.

“We spent the rest of yesterday (Saturday) morning giving statements to police, packing up and communicating with our families.”

Wakeford’s wife, Daryl, and his son and daughter have been told of his death.

“We are our way to the nearest place where we can get the car repaired so that we can return to South Africa as soon as possible,” said Chapman.

On Saturday Wakeford’s wife was too distraught to speak to the media.

Chapman described Wakeford as a 63-year-old who was still young at heart with a zest for life.

“Harry is my brother’s father-in-law. He was a wonderful man. He had a long career as a technician in the military and was semi-retired. The trip had been amazing.

“At 63 years Harry was able to climb to the top of Mount Nyiragongo in the Virunga National Park.

“He really enjoyed travelling, the outdoors and exploring. He was also an enthusiastic photographer who took incredible photographs.”

Chapman said Wakeford had loved to laugh and had a buoyant personality.

“He relished his afternoon beer at the end of every day and would always laugh about everything. He really was a family man. He was a father and a husband first before everything else. Harry was taken from us too soon and he will be sorely missed by friends and family.”

Arrangements were being made to repatriate Wakeford’s body.

“We hope that we can get his body home to his family soon,” said Chapman.

Leonard Mndala, a spokesman for the police in Karonga, said that the incident was under investigation and no arrests had been made made.

“We are still looking for the suspects. We only managed to recover ammunition.

“We would like to send our condolences to Wakeford’s family in South Africa and would like to let them know that we are trying our best to find the suspects.” – Additional reporting by Alexandra Patrick

Sunday Tribune

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