Niël Terblanché
Swakopmund residents are outraged after a beloved pet dog was stolen, brutally killed, and its carcass allegedly sold to a kapana trader.
The incident, which took place on Saturday, has sparked an outcry, with community members calling for justice and urging people to attend the upcoming court proceedings to oppose bail for the accused.
According to Chrane Wasserfall from the Civilian Animal Protection Unit (CAPU), the dog, named Ragnir, was stolen from its owner’s yard in the Matutura residential area on Saturday.
The devastated owner spent hours searching for her two missing dogs, eventually recovering one. However, Ragnir was later discovered to have been taken by four individuals, who allegedly killed him in a gruesome manner before selling his carcass.
“It was later discovered that four men stole Ragnir and killed him by hitting him with an axe over the head four times,” Wasserfall said. “
The carcass was reportedly sold to a kapana trader for N$200, who then resold the barbequed dog’s meat to customers.
Three of the four suspects between the ages of 18 and 22 confessed to the crime and have since been arrested.
A fourth suspect, a 12-year-old boy, was not taken into custody but was placed under adult supervision. Authorities have indicated that the minor could still face criminal charges.
Chief Inspector Ileni Shapumba, head of the community affairs division of the Namibian Police in the Erongo region, confirmed the arrests and stated that the three suspects are scheduled to appear before a magistrate on Wednesday.
According to Shapumba, they face theft charges, as pets are considered property under Namibian law, but charges related to cruelty towards animals may also be added.
“When an owner is unlawfully deprived of their pet, it constitutes theft. However, animal cruelty charges are also expected to be added,” Shapumba stated.
The case has sparked outrage across the Swakopmund community, with many residents calling for harsher penalties for animal cruelty and theft.
CAPU and other concerned citizens have urged the public to gather at the Swakopmund Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday morning to show support for Ragnir’s owner and to demand justice.
“The Court and authorities have to see that we are sick and tired of this behaviour and will not tolerate this anymore!” Wasserfall said.
She added that Ragnir’s family has been torn apart by his cruel death.
“I cannot even imagine the pain Ragnir had to endure when they were hitting him with an axe four times,” she added
Wasserfall argued that such incidents have been occurring with alarming frequency, yet little has been done to curb them.
“We have been fighting these cases since 2023, and to date, nothing has happened. People can now steal your dog, abuse it, kill it, and sell it because they have rights. What about the rights of the owner and the dog?” she asked
The incident has also raised concerns regarding the illegal butchering and selling of dog meat, which is prohibited under Namibian law.
The Animal Protection Act explicitly forbids the killing of dogs with the intent of using their meat, skin, or any other body parts for commercial purposes.
