Erasmus Shalihaxwe
The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has announced the passing of Congress of Democrats (CoD) representative, Johannes Matroos, who died on Saturday.
Matroos was part of the delegation of political parties observing the printing process of ballot papers for the upcoming elections in Johannesburg last week.
According to a media statement from ECN’s chief electoral and referenda officer Peter Shaama, the late Matroos passed away on 2 November.
He said that Matroos was scheduled to return to Namibia on 30 October with the rest of the party representatives.
However, after missing his scheduled transport to the airport, they found him unresponsive in his hotel room.
‘’Emergency services were immediately contacted. He was later on presented to the MediClinic Morningside in Sandton, where he was stabilised, and subsequently admitted and his family was immediately notified. Unfortunately, his health condition worsened, and he was subsequently transferred to the ICU, where he remained under intensive care until his passing,’’ said Shaama.
Shaama added that the repatriation of Matroos’s remains to Namibia will be arranged, with details to be confirmed in due course.
‘’On behalf of the Electoral Commission of Namibia, we extend our deepest condolences to the Matroos family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time. His loss is profoundly felt within our community and serves as a solemn reminder of the dedication and risks faced by those serving our nation. We kindly request privacy for the family as they grieve this tragic loss,’’ Shaama stated.
