Ester Mbathera
The Social Security Commission’s (SSC) chief executive officer, Milka Mungunda, was the victim of a car hijacking on Friday.
The incident occurred near the B1-B4 traffic circle on the Keetmanshoop-Lüderitz highway around 23h00.
Mungunda confirmed the incident and opened a police case.
“I am OK. I will see the doctor today,” she said on Tuesday.
According to the police incident report, Mungunda was searching for a guesthouse in Keetmanshoop when she encountered a man who offered to guide her to the location.
The suspect, a 23-year-old Namibian national, entered her vehicle under the pretence of providing her with directions.
Instead of leading her to the guest house, the suspect directed Mungunda to an isolated area near the traffic circle outside town.
When Mungunda realised they were heading off course, she confronted the suspect, who responded by becoming aggressive.
He then produced a firearm, which the police identified as a toy gun, and threatened to shoot and kill her.
A struggle ensued inside the vehicle, during which Mungunda managed to escape, leaving with her cell phone and car keys.
According to ||Karas regional crime investigations coordinator, deputy commissioner Nicodemus Mbango, the suspect fled the scene in Mungunda’s vehicle, a maroon Toyota Hilux Legend V6 valued at N$800 000, along with her luggage.
“He left her abandoned in a shocked or in a hysterical state but did not harm her in any way physically,” said Mbango.
The suspect drove the stolen vehicle into town, where a municipal traffic officer stopped him because the vehicle only had one number plate on it.
According to Mbango, the traffic officer, unaware at the time that the vehicle had been stolen, instructed the suspect to turn off the car engine and proceed to issue him a traffic ticket.
“Afterwards, the officer allowed the suspect to leave, but he could not succeed in restarting it. The sensor of the vehicle activated, whereby the officer detected some foul play,” said Mbango.
Mungunda’s vehicle was recovered with her belongings intact.
The suspect was apprehended and formally charged.
The suspect is expected to appear in the Keetmanshoop Magistrate Court during the course of the week.
Police investigations into the matter are ongoing.
