Tourist shot dead at end of Sout Africa safari tour
A Canadian man has been shot dead while on safari in South Africa after a park ranger's gun accidentally went off.
The 69-year-old had been visiting Kruger National Park, the country's biggest game reserve.
After an afternoon seeing wildlife, the man's tour group pulled over for a sunset barbecue when the park ranger accidentally fired a shot, striking the pensioner in the chest.
A group member performed first aid on the man while paramedics rushed to the scene, but were unable to save him.
Kruger National Park spokesman JP Louw confirmed the safari park guide was not one of their rangers but worked for a private company that brings tourists into the park.
He said: 'Our information so far is that a private guide attached to a concession operator allegedly accidentally discharged a firearm in the Kruger.
'It resulted in a fatal injury to a 69-year-old Canadian tourist in the national park.
'The guest was part of a group who booked outside the park and came in for a bush braai offered by a private concession with a valid permit to allow them in the park.
A Canadian man has been shot dead while on safari in South Africa. (File photo)
'This tragic matter is now in the hands of the South African Police', he said.
Police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo said the victim allegedly approached a concession operator who was holding a rifle and asked whether the firearm was real.
He said: 'It is alleged that the 69-year-old male tourist approached the concession operator, who was holding a rifle and asked if it was a real firearm.
'While the operator was demonstrating that it was a real rifle, that was the time when the firearm reportedly discharged, and it killed the tourist instantly', he said.
Police have opened cases of culpable homicide and reckless handling of a firearm as investigators work to establish the exact sequence of events that led to the shooting.
SANParks (South African National Parks) said it was cooperating with authorities and extended its condolences to the victim's family.
A spokesperson said: 'SANParks extends its heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of the deceased during this difficult time.'
The tragedy in the South African safari park comes a month after two tourists were brutally stabbed to death and thrown to crocodiles in a river in the Kruger.
Fellow tourists stumbled across the bodies of a married couple, Ernst Marais, 71, and his wife, Dina, 73, floating in shallow water at an elephant crossing with their hands tied.
The victim's Ford Ranger twin-cab 4x4 had been stolen by the killers, who were suspected poachers crossing from the South African safari park back to neighbouring Mozambique.
All three have since been arrested in a joint police operation, with two being caught in Mozambique and one in Zimbabwe, and all are facing extradition to South Africa for trial.
The double murders happened on May 25 near the Pafuri gate to the north of the Kruger, which is set in 7500 square miles and is the size of Wales and gets over a million visitors a year.
It is a tourist mecca worth £350m a year to the South African Government.
The couple had gone to Crook's Corner, which got its infamous name over 100 years ago from poachers, gun runners and slavers who used the remote border area as a hideout.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
