Villagers warned not to rob San people
People of the San communities often get coerced into selling their drought relief food to other villagers when they need ‘quick money’. While some use this income to provide for their basic needs, many spend it on alcohol at cuca shops.
This was revealed by Rakkel Nekongo, who is the caretaker of a San community resettled at a centre in Eendobe village in the Ohangwena Region. Nekongo has been running the centre since 2005.
She said while she works around the clock to make sure those residing at the centre do not sell off their donations, the same cannot be said for other centres - Oshana-Shiwa, Onamatadiva and Ekoka, also in Okongo constituency – which do not have custodians.
“These people are already vulnerable and there is no humanity in taking advantage of them. As Namibians, we should look after each other. If someone is doing something wrong, warn them so they can avoid making such mistakes. Do not go ahead and buy the items for peanuts,” Nekongo pleaded.
The group of over 80 San people evidently does not agree with her sentiments, with some in the crowd mumbling that she is preventing them from making “quick bucks”.
But Nekongo maintains it is for their benefit that these rules should be followed.
Concerned about the trend, Okongo constituency councillor Efraim Shipindo on Friday warned that government will not tolerate individuals who target members of the San community, robbing them of their monthly social grants.
Alcohol on credit
He said some shebeen owners allegedly also give members of the San community - who are beneficiaries of monthly social grants - unlimited alcohol on credit.
“They are asked to settle their alcohol accounts immediately upon receiving their social grants. Some of them end up spending the entire amount to settle debts. This should come to an end,” Shipindo said.
He added that there will be no mercy and perpetrators will be taken to task should they be caught in the act.
They have started a campaign in the areas where this taking place, in partnership with the Namibian Police, to establish the extent of the problem and to find solutions, he said.
The team will, among other things, visit pension payout points and places where San people live.
– [email protected]
This was revealed by Rakkel Nekongo, who is the caretaker of a San community resettled at a centre in Eendobe village in the Ohangwena Region. Nekongo has been running the centre since 2005.
She said while she works around the clock to make sure those residing at the centre do not sell off their donations, the same cannot be said for other centres - Oshana-Shiwa, Onamatadiva and Ekoka, also in Okongo constituency – which do not have custodians.
“These people are already vulnerable and there is no humanity in taking advantage of them. As Namibians, we should look after each other. If someone is doing something wrong, warn them so they can avoid making such mistakes. Do not go ahead and buy the items for peanuts,” Nekongo pleaded.
The group of over 80 San people evidently does not agree with her sentiments, with some in the crowd mumbling that she is preventing them from making “quick bucks”.
But Nekongo maintains it is for their benefit that these rules should be followed.
Concerned about the trend, Okongo constituency councillor Efraim Shipindo on Friday warned that government will not tolerate individuals who target members of the San community, robbing them of their monthly social grants.
Alcohol on credit
He said some shebeen owners allegedly also give members of the San community - who are beneficiaries of monthly social grants - unlimited alcohol on credit.
“They are asked to settle their alcohol accounts immediately upon receiving their social grants. Some of them end up spending the entire amount to settle debts. This should come to an end,” Shipindo said.
He added that there will be no mercy and perpetrators will be taken to task should they be caught in the act.
They have started a campaign in the areas where this taking place, in partnership with the Namibian Police, to establish the extent of the problem and to find solutions, he said.
The team will, among other things, visit pension payout points and places where San people live.
– [email protected]
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article