Ester Mbathera
The country experienced a wave of violent incidents over the weekend, with reports of gender-based violence (GBV), murder, rape, fatal road accidents, and drownings recorded across multiple regions.
In Usakos, six people were allegedly murdered by an 18-year-old boy at the Hakhaseb location.
Nampol reported that the suspect entered the house and allegedly first killed an elderly woman and five children with an axe and knob kierrie.
He subsequently set their bodies on fire.
“Victims are: Elisabeth Naruses (90) female, Fenny Naruses (18) female, Ibra Naruses (6) female, Raunisha Boer (6) female, Rachel Boer (3) female, and Emi Naruses (3) female,” the police report reads.
The 18-year-old pupil who was allegedly murdered was in Grade 11.
The suspect has been arrested and was treated at Usakos State Hospital for injuries.
Usakos mayor Irene Simeon-Kurtz, one of the first responders at the scene, condemned the killings.
“The acts of gender-based violence and violent crimes against women and children continue to plague our town. It was horrific to arrive at a house I once visited and felt welcomed at, and today I found 6 lifeless bodies of people who are part of us and our community. Never did I think that such a gruesome act could happen in Usakos. This is not who we are. This is not the society I know,” she said.
She thanked law enforcement officers, including local police, detectives from Walvis Bay, forensics from Windhoek, and Inspector General Joseph Shikongo for their swift response.
“It is truly unfortunate that this young man will have to face the full might of the law. I further urged the community of Usakos for us to stand together and tackle the issue of youth unemployment together, especially kicking alcohol and drugs out of Usakos,” she said.
RAPE AND GBV
Sexual and gender-based violence cases in the country remain prevalent, with four cases of rape and domestic violence reported.
In Otjiwarongo, an 18-year-old woman was sexually assaulted in the early hours of Friday.
“The taxi was traced, but the alleged suspect ran away,” the report stated.
In In a separate incident, a 50-year-old male suspect was arrested in Tsandi on Friday for the alleged rape of an eight-year-old girl in a donkey cart.
These two cases add to the serious concerns about gender-based violence in the country, with 8 076 cases recorded countrywide over the past two years.
CULPABLE HOMICIDE CASES
The weekend also saw two fatal road incidents. In Oranjemund, a 27-year-old man died after the vehicle he was in overturned.
In a separate incident in Onandjaba village in Omusati region, a 46-year-old pedestrian, Johannes Twakaleni Sakaria, was killed in a hit-and-run.
The driver of the vehicle fled the scene and remains unidentified.
OTHER CRIMES
The weekend also included two drowning incidents reported: one in Onandjaba and one in Outapi, both on Friday.
Additionally, a suicide was reported in Ondangwa on Saturday.
The police report also included incidents of stock theft, drug possession, reckless driving, fraud, assault, and inquests into drownings and a suicide.
