Month: July 2023

A teenage couple was arrested at Grootfontein in the Otjozondjupa Region on Wednesday after they allegedly conspired to terminate a pregnancy.

A crime report issued by the Namibian Police Force (NamPol) on Sunday stated that the 19-year-old male and 18-year-old female, who are in a relationship as boyfriend and girlfriend, were involved in the incident.

It is alleged that the boyfriend provided the abortion pills to his girlfriend, who was six months pregnant.

The girl allegedly used the pills and experienced abdominal cramps. She was admitted to the hospital and discharged the next day.

They were expected to appear in the Otjiwarongo Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

In another incident, four-month-old Secilia Ndahambelela was found dead by her mother at their residence in Kuvukiland location at Tsumeb.

The mother woke up during the night, breastfed the baby and went back to sleep, before waking up again at 08h00.

“When she returned at 09h00, she found that the baby was not breathing. No foul play is suspected,” the report read.

The baby’s body was transported to the Tsumeb Hospital mortuary for a post-mortem to be conducted.

Meanwhile, five male suspects aged between 29 and 41 were apprehended on Friday after they were allegedly found with half of an Oryx carcass in their possession, without a permit. The discovery was made at a mini road block on the D2172 road in the Otjozondjupa Region around midnight after their car was searched.

The suspects are expected to appear before the Okahandja Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Police investigations in all matters continue.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

A 14-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a 37-year-old man on multiple occasions between April and July 2023 at Onegolo village in the Oshikoto Region, the Namibian Police have reported.

The police in a crime report on Sunday said the girl is in Grade 6.

“It is alleged that the suspect entered the victim’s room at night while her parents/elders were at the cuca shops and had sexual intercourse with her under coercive circumstances,” the crime report said.

The victim’s pregnancy was detected at 10 weeks during a medical consultation at the hospital.

The suspect has been arrested and is expected to appear before the Tsumeb Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

Police investigations continue.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

A 30-year-old man was arrested after he allegedly tried selling cannabis valued at N.dollars 112 750 to an undercover police officer in Windhoek on Friday.

In a crime report issued on Sunday, the Namibian Police Force (NamPol) said the incident occurred in Otjomuise around 21h00, when the suspect allegedly tried to sell the cannabis to the police officer.

The cannabis was confiscated.

In another incident, two Namibian men aged 34 and 27 were arrested for the alleged theft of property from plot 46 at Brakwater in the Khomas Region around 09h30 on Friday.

It is reported that unknown suspects unlawfully and intentionally stole the complainant’s fencing materials, which included about 2 000 fencing poles valued at N.dollars 48 000.

The suspects allegedly entered the plot without the owner’s consent. No recovery and arrests have been made.

In a separate incident, an 18-year-old Namibian female allegedly committed suicide in Ondobe Constituency in the Ohangwena Region on Friday.

Her body was found hanging from a tree.

The girl, who was a Grade 12 learner at Oshikunde Secondary School, reportedly left a suicide note.

Her body is being kept at the Eenhana District hospital mortuary for a post-mortem.

In a similar incident, 29-year-old Riccardo Izaks, allegedly hanged himself in his bedroom in Otjomuise around 11h00 on Friday around 11h00.

It is alleged that the deceased hanged himself after a quarrel with his partner at her residence. No suicide note was left behind and no foul play is suspected.

The deceased’s next of kin have been notified.

Police investigations in all matters continue.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Jennely Matundu, said Namibia is vulnerable to climate change and disasters, and that is a challenge that calls for a paradigm shift from investments in disaster response to preparedness.

The deputy minister said this during the inaugural meeting of the Africa Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action System (AMHEWAS) Steering Committee here on Monday, which will continue until 28 July.

“The AMHEWAS programme is well positioned to mobilise resources and establish multi-hazard early warning systems (MHEWS) to reduce disaster losses by 2030, which will contribute to building a resilient continent,” Matundu said.

She also stated that there is a request for support to establish MHEWS for Namibia that will be aimed at reducing disaster losses and accounting for loss and damage and could be used for climate change negotiations.

Adekunle Joliff Milton King, Permanent Representative to the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and chairperson of the Bureau of the Permanent Representative Council Sub-Committee on Environmental Issues, said Africa is facing increasing disaster losses and damages due to social and economic vulnerability and unsustainable land use practises, adding that floods, tropical cycles, landslides and windstorms have increased in frequency.

“Between January and June 2023, more than 700 people lost their lives, 152 000 were displaced, and over one million were disproportionally affected by tropical cyclones across Malawi, Mozambique and Madagascar,” King added.

Director of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy of the African Union Commission, Harsen Nyambe said even though Africans contribute the least to climate change, they have no choice but to address it because climate change means more Africans will go hungry and face epidemic diseases and vectors, and more of them will stand to descend.

“It is for this reason that, as an African Union, we felt that we could no longer continue to talk because talk is cheap. It’s time to walk the talk and embark on concrete actions that will help us avoid some of the challenges that we face in terms of climate change,” Nyambe stated.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed a Bill into law which recognises Sign Language as the official 12th language for South Africa.

During the signing ceremony, Ramaphosa said it also affirms the humanity of people who communicate with sign language.

“Having sign language recognised as an official language will address access to education, economic and other social opportunities as well as public participation. People with hearing impairments will be able to also access more services, public information and a host of other opportunities,” President Ramaphosa said.

The legislation comes six years after the Pan South African Language Board noted parliament’s “positive step” in its recommendation that Sign Language be declared the 12th official language, while the decision was still under Constitutional Review

Source: Nam News Network

North West acting Premier, Nono Maloyi, said he was saddened by the passing of two former SABC journalists serving his community.

According to Maloyi’s Office, seasoned radio journalist, Bobby Serame, 53, passed away after an illness on Thursday.

Meanwhile, a 33-year-old videographer, Moleboheng Khaeane, lost her life due to an accident on the same day.

“Bobby Serame worked for the SABC as a radio journalist for over two decades before joining Mahikeng FM last year.”

According to the acting Premier, Khaeane was also one of the few female video journalists in the province.

“She worked for the SABC News – North West region for three years before joining SABC News Free State region.”

Maloyi has described both Serame and Khaeane as critical members of the media who informed the people of the North West about several government programmes and initiatives to address various socio-economic challenges confronting the province.

“Members of the media are critical government stakeholders and without them, we cannot reach and share information regarding government services to our people.

“Both Serame and Khaeane contributed immensely to empowering our people with information that can better their lives. May their souls find eternal rest. My condolences to their families, friends and colleagues,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, the National Press Club (NPC) said it was mourning the passing of four journalists, under different circumstances.

This includes Khaeane, Serame, veteran KwaZulu-Natal photographer, Bongani Mbatha and respected entertainment journalist, Welcome Skhosana.

“Every democracy relies on the media – as the fourth estate – to ensure its citizenry is informed of developments that affect their lives and when we lose colleagues like we did this week, it hurts our democracy like it did their families and friends,” said National Press Club Chairperson, Antoinette Slabbert.

Independent Newspapers’ Mbatha was shot and killed at his house, outside Durban on Tuesday. Entertainment writer and former Daily Sun and City Press journalist, Welcome Skhosana, passed away on Wednesday, 19 July 2023.

“The National Press Club dips its flag in honouring these media workers and agents for democracy and the plurality of voices in the media landscape of our country.

“The club sends its heartfelt condolences to their families, colleagues and friends during this hour of pain and need.”

Source: South African Government News Agency