KEETMANSHOOP – Namibian Police //Kharas Regional Commander Marius Katamila yesterday rejected rumours of alleged recent ritual killings in Noordoewer.
According to information provided, the claims emanated from community members alleging that the body parts of two of the three people who drowned in the Orange River last weekend while attempting to cross the Namibian border by canoe were concealed in a refrigerator at the house of a representative of a Kavango traditional authority in the town for ritual purposes.
Katamila clearly stated: “Since I became regional commander in this region, I can assure you that there were no incidents reported/investigated of ritual killings taking place.”
The police chief then explained that, while the trio was in a canoe, they spotted the presence of members of the South African Defence Force at a distance, prompting them to attempt to flee.
However, their canoe capsized in the process, resulting in two of them drowning in the river.
He continued that the survivor subsequently reported the incident to the Noordoewer police station, after which he went to the house of a Kavango traditional authority representative, where some relatives of the deceased were staying. “A crowd of approximately 250 people, including family members of the deceased, then gathered at the said house, interrogating the survivor about the incident and, after not getting answers, started to viciously attack him, claiming that the body parts were in the house,” said the commissioner.
As the situation got out of control, members of the Noordoewer police station went to the scene to calm the situation. However, the situation escalated to the point where a team from the Special Reserve Force was dispatched from Keetmanshoop, it emerged during the press briefing.
It was further stated that, as a means of bringing the situation under control, some family members were allowed to search the house for the alleged remains of the deceased, but none were found. “The situation then culminated to a point whereby I instructed the Reserve Force to use tear gas and fire warning shots in an effort to bring the traditional authority representative and his family to safety at Noordoewer police station,” said Katamila.
He added that reports received indicated that the mob was looting the tuckshop at the house, damaging public property and throwing stones at police vehicles, causing bodily harm. Three arrests were subsequently made, and the suspects were charged with public violence, damage to private and police property, as well as assault by threat, he said while addressing the media. He also said arrangements were underway to relocate the family back to Rundu for safety reasons.
-sklukowski@nepc.com.na
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