Body of slain German tourist to be repatriated on Thursday

Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu says three people taken in for questioning over Monday's shooting have been arrested. 

"Minister Bheki Cele went to Mpumalanga and managed to get to the bottom of what had happened there and he called me later because we've been working in collaboration with each other.

“He called me to indicate that those three suspects that he had have now been arrested so we know that three people were responsible for the tourist's death have now been arrested."

Sisulu gave an update on investigations during a media briefing on Wednesday. 

Seventy-five-year-old Schnarr Joerg was gunned down after armed hijackers accosted him and three other tourists near White River. 

They demanded that they open the doors of their minibus, but the driver who instead locked them was shot. 

 READ: Cele: Three 'people of interest' identified for German tourist killing

The gang fled without taking anything from the group. 

Sisulu says they arrived in the country, just over two weeks ago. 

She says Joerg’s loved ones, who flew back home on Wednesday, are very traumatised.

“I was amazed at how strong they are, They held up against all odds until they left and we arranged that the body should be brought down.

“It was in the hospital at that point. We arranged that the body should be embalmed. The embalmment and autopsy were done as well."