In connection with the search for a German tourist in South Africa’s metropolis Cape Town, five suspects appeared before the court on Thursday. According to the National Law Enforcement Agency, the men were in possession of items that belonged to the Brandenburger. They had been charged with the robbery in March. NPA spokesman Eric Ntabazalia told the German Press Agency on Thursday that the NPA had requested more time for additional investigations in the district court of Wynberg, a suburb of Cape Town. The next court date has been set for June 22nd.
According to the police, they have not yet been able to prove a direct connection between the suspects and the disappearance of the Brandenburger in February. Officials are therefore still looking for a trace of 22-year-old Nick, who comes from Döbern (Spree-Neisse district) near Cottbus. Cape Town’s Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has also pledged his support.
The number of violent crimes in South Africa has increased recently
According to the police, the missing German entered the country at the southern tip of Africa on February 6 and lived in an Airbnb accommodation in the suburb of Pinelands. The young man has been missing since February 15. A security camera photo circulated on social media on February 15 showing him in sportswear on his way to a hiking trail at the foot of the Carboniferous Mountain in Hout Bay, another suburb of Cape Town. The police confirmed that he was dropped off there by a driving service.
Although South Africa is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Africa, it also has a high crime rate. Last year, the number of violent crimes in the country with around 60 million inhabitants rose again. According to government figures, more than 7,000 people were killed between the beginning of July and the end of September alone. (dpa)
