The journey of two illegal Zimbabweans to Pretoria came to an abrupt end last Saturday afternoon, when one was killed and eaten by three lions.

According to Mphephu Police spokesperson Litshani Muthuli, the two Simoyi brothers left Zimbabwe on Saturday afternoon en route to Pretoria. Workers of Lukin farm next to Mudimeli heard a scream at around 15:00 and when they approached the lion camp on the farm, they noticed a man in a tree.

The workers then went to the house on the farm to inform Mr Johan van Rensburg (47) from Polokwane, who was visiting the farm. Van Rensburg drove with his Toyota 4x4 inside the lion camp and ordered the man in the tree, Paul Simoyi, to jump on top of the vehicle. According to the police, at that stage, the lions had already eaten most of the 21-year-old Dakari Simoyi.

"We were on our way to Pretoria to look for a job, and my brother suggested that we use the path that passes through the farm to avoid the policemen on the N1-road. Once we were inside the camp, we saw three lions. I quickly climbed into the tree, but my brother was too late to get into a tree. I saw my brother killed and eaten by the three lions, and I could do nothing," he said.

The farm owner promised not to open a case of trespassing, since Paul Simoyi has already suffered the death of his brother.

The police are investigating the incident.