Fiery start to the New Year

JANA-MARI SMITHWINDHOEKThe New Year’s weekend was marred by multiple crimes including murder, rape, armed robbery and theft.Moreover, celebrations became heated at the Witbooi Royal House in Gibeon at midnight on New Year’s Eve, when a lapa roof caught fire after fireworks landed in the thatch. The lapa burned down but the fire did not spread to the adjacent house.On 1 January, the police arrested a 25-year-old Namibian man in the Kavango West region on a charge of murder after the man allegedly killed his 33-year-old uncle.The suspect “intentionally chopped his uncle with a traditional axe several times on the head after an argument over a torch, killing him instantly,” the Namibian Police stated in their weekend crime report.Among the four rape cases reported to the police, all of which took place in the early morning hours of New Year's Day, one involved a 16-year-old girl who was attacked and robbed in Mariental.The police say the girl and a friend were told to withdraw money for a family member. On the way back to the house, a man grabbed the girl by her hair near a shopping centre, and sexually assaulted her while threatening her with a knife.Her friend fled in order to get help. The suspect furthermore stole the girl’s cell phone and N$200. No arrest has been made.Three more rapes were reported on 1 January: one at Groot Aub, another in Otjomuise, and another in Windhoek’s Damara location. The suspects in the Groot Aub and Otjomuise cases have been arrested.KidnappingAn attempted kidnapping led to the arrest of one man while his accomplice remains on the run.It is reported that on 31 December, near the Ondangwa roadblock, at around midnight, a 38-year-old woman was hiking when two suspects stopped and bundled her into the boot of their car.The woman texted her family, who immediately contacted the police. The men’s car was swiftly intercepted, and a 28-year-old man arrested, while the second suspect fled on foot. The investigation continues.MurderMeanwhile, at midday on the last day of the year, a man died near the Roman Catholic hospital and Shoprite in Windhoek’s city centre, after he was stabbed with a broken bottle in his neck.Another case of murder was opened early on New Year’s Day, after a 27-year-old man allegedly stabbed an as yet unidentified man following an argument that erupted while they played a game of pool in Okuryangava. The suspect is in police custody.The police arrested a 43-year-old man on a farm near Stampriet on 31 December on a charge of assault by threat under the domestic violence act. The man was accused of threatening his wife and children that he would burn down the house and kill both his children. He remains in custody.Robbery and burglarySeveral cases of armed robbery, theft and house break-ins were reported over New Year’s weekend across the country.A man is recovering in a private hospital in Windhoek after he was violently assaulted by three robbers who had broken into the house he shares with his girlfriend in Otjomuise on 31 December. The suspects remain on the run. They reportedly stole items worth more than N$55 000 from the house, while they held the woman and the man at gunpoint.A tourist from Switzerland was robbed in Windhoek’s city centre on 31 December by an as yet unidentified man wielding a knife. The man stole the Swiss national’s passport, credit cards, two cell phones, two backs and N$4 000 cash.No arrest has been made.On 1 January, a doctor living in Ongwediva woke up in the morning to discover that her house had been broken into during the night while she was asleep. The robber or robbers had smashed a window to gain entry and stole items valued at more than N$34 000. No arrest has been made.Also on 1 January at one in the morning, five men approached a woman who was parking her red Toyota Paseo, forced open the driver’s door, dragged her out of the car and drove away with the vehicle. A few minutes later, the car overturned at Omashaka Gakamanya at Oshikango and the suspects fled on foot. The vehicle was retrieved by the police.

Fiery start to the New Year

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-13

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Fiery start to the New Year

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-13

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