Month: December 2023

Farmers in the Eastern Cape have welcomed the handover of 17 Nguni cattle bulls as part of the Livestock Production Improvement Scheme (LPIS).

The handover was recently officiated by the Eastern Cape MEC of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, Nonkqubela Pieters.

The provincial Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) is driving the commercialisation of livestock development in communal and smallholder farming communities in order to increase red meat production in the Eastern Cape.

Through partnerships with the private and public sector, the department continues to support farmers to participate in the agricultural value chain, contribute to the economy and create jobs.

The livestock was handed over to farmers in the Sarah Baartman, Amathole and OR Tambo Districts. The initiative was made possible by the department in partnership with the East Cape Nguni Club and the Dohne Agricultural Development Institute.

‘…These cattle [are beautiful] and they are given to [the farmers] so that
they can make money. I’m giving [them] a responsibility to guard their money.

‘Our aim is to develop farmers to become commercial, hence this programme and we encourage farmers to guard and use these animals wisely for the benefit of their businesses,’ Pieters said.

Farmers expressed their gratitude, saying the bulls will improve the quality of their livestock and fetch good prices at the market.

Ntombomzi Qeqe-Lwana, of Die Vlagte farm in Somerset East, hailed the department’s endeavours to ensure communal farmers are given resources and investments that will help them produce quality meat and get profits.

‘I thank the department very much for these Nguni bulls because it will assist me to change my flock and my customers will get satisfaction. This handover came at a good time. When we start the new year, we will know we have quality breeds to develop our cattle.

‘It’s a good programme as it assists us to venture into markets and get profits so that we can fend for our families and create employment,’
Qeqe-Lwana said.

Sicelo Rozani from Libode said he was farming with both cattle and sheep. He applied for assistance from the department and was elated to get two bulls.

‘We are very grateful to the department for this gift. It will assist us in growing our enterprises in the rural space,’ Rozani said.

In the 2023/24 financial year, the department set aside a budget of R12.8 million to support communal and smallholder farmers with 250 cattle, 500 sheep and 200 goats to enhance red meat and animal fibre development in the province.
Source: South African Government News Agency

OTJIWARONGO: The Otjiwarongo State Hospital in the Otjozondjupa Region recorded the births of three baby girls and one boy on Christmas Day here.

A registered nurse at the hospital’s maternity ward, Linea Tuna on Tuesday told Nampa that her team of nurses on Christmas Day assisted four women to deliver their healthy babies at the hospital between 09h19 and 12h00.

‘We first assisted a 16-year-old lady to deliver her baby boy at about 09h19 on Monday morning,’ said Tuna.

The nurse further explained that the four newly born babies weighed between 2.6 and 3.3 kilogrammes (kg), saying a newborn’s normal weight is about 2.5kg.

Speaking on behalf of the mothers, 16-year-old Stefeni Pienaar from Otjiwarongo expressed excitement saying, she feels blessed to have given birth to a healthy baby boy on Christmas, a day she said is believed in her community to be the day Jesus Christ was born.

‘Because of that belief in my community, my baby boy received gifts from people around, such as nappies, a teddy bear and clot
hes,’ she said.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: The Katutura State Hospital in Windhoek recorded 15 births on Christmas Day this year, of which nine are girls and six boys.

Mathew Herman, a Senior Midwife at the hospital said that a premature baby forms part of the group of babies born, noting that the baby was born through an emergency C-section as the mother had pre-eclampsia. Both the mother and baby are healthy, he added.

‘There was a small complication where a mother had to be admitted for an emergency c- section as she suffered from Pre-eclampsia, both mother and baby are healthy and out of danger. All the other babies are healthy,’ said Herman.

Angolan national 16-year-old Helena Ndilianu, who forms part of the group of mothers told this agency that she did not expect to have her baby boy on Christmas as she was told she was due at the end of the month.

A first-time mother, Ndilianu who hails from Oshivemba in Angola said she will be taking her newborn back to Angola.

Namibian Shiweyahafo Ndeukanawa, aged 39, said she expected to give
birth on 27 December.

The unemployed mother of six told Nampa she was blessed to have given birth on Christmas Day.

‘I feel happy and lucky to have given birth on Christmas day, I thought the baby would be born in January,’ said Charlotte Kubas, another mother who hails from Groot Aub.

She said her baby boy was born healthy however, his weight decreased from 2.1 kg to 1.7kg since birth. Kubas further told Nampa that the ambulance drivers suggested the name ‘Jesus’ for her baby.

Registered nurse, Martha Moongo said she enjoyed her Christmas with the mothers and the babies they received.

‘It’s amazing to have a Christmas baby because we can celebrate together with the mothers,’ said, Moongo.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: Former South West Africa National Union (Swanu) president and academic, Dr Rihupisa Kandando has died.

A relative confirmed to Nampa that Kandando died in the early morning hours of Sunday at a hospital in Windhoek where he was hospitalised following a stroke a few weeks ago.

He was 60 years old.

Kandando, who was born in Gobabis in the Omaheke Region in 1963, was the leader of Swanu from 1998 till 2007.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency

RUNDU: A 38-year-old man drowned in the Kavango River at Divundu in the Kavango East Region on Sunday after he had gone to collect water.

Namibian Police Force Acting Regional Commander, Deputy Commissioner Eino Nambahu told Nampa on Monday that the deceased was identified as Anton Haingura.

His body was taken to the Andara District Hospital mortuary and police investigations into the matter continue.

Nambahu said the river is rising due to the rainy season, and that the speed of water flow is equally picking up, hence community members are cautioned to use the right points when fetching water for their households.

He also advised parents to take care of minors and restrict them from going to the river.

Nambahu said it is during this time that many drowning cases are normally reported.

In an unrelated incident, a woman whose age is unknown attempted to commit suicide by hanging while reportedly under the influence of alcohol.

The incident took place at Shikoro village where local people managed to cut
the rope, and saved her.

‘Community members are warned to drink responsibly as irresponsible drinking leads to uncontrolled decisions and actions. We must remember that death is an irreversible action and the life of every person is of equal importance,’ Nambahu said.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: A four-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a known suspect at Onheleiwa village in Oshikuku in the Omusati Region on Friday.

In a crime report issued by the Namibian Police Force (NamPol) on Sunday, it is alleged that the suspect assaulted the minor with an unknown object all over her body and she sustained serious injuries.

The suspect was not arrested yet, and police investigations continue.

In a similar incident, a 35-year-old woman was allegedly gang raped by three unknown male suspects in Groot Aub in a riverbed in the early morning hours on Saturday.

According to NamPol spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, the victim was on her way back from a club, walked through a riverbed and got attacked by three male suspects who took turns to rape her. It is reported that a male person intervened when he heard a woman screaming. The suspects saw his flashing torch and ran into the dark.

No arrests were made, and police investigations continue.

Elsewhere, a 15-year-old girl was alleged
ly raped at Omanga farm in the Grootfontein district during November and December at an unknown time and date.

Allegations are that the victim went to visit her sister at the farm, were she was allegedly raped by the suspect who reportedly gave her alcohol and forcefully had sexual intercourse with her on three different dates. Police investigations are underway.

In a separate incident, a 73-year-old Namibian male pensioner was found in possession of 18 parcels of skunk cannabis on Saturday at around 12h00 at Kap and Bou in Etoshapoort, Outjo.

It is reported that the cannabis was found at the pensioner’s house during a police search, the street value of the cannabis is yet unknown and the suspect was arrested. Police investigations continue.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency