Hardap prison officers died in van designated for inmates

Serious questions are being raised over why 14 correctional officers were crammed into a Namibian Correctional Service (NCS) van designed for inmates, with a carrying capacity of just six at the back, while a Toyota Quantum minibus specifically allocated for staff went unused.The revelation, confirmed this week by home affairs, immigration, safety and security minister Lucia Iipumbu has intensified scrutiny of Saturday’s horrific accident near Mariental, which claimed 16 lives, among them 14 uniformed officers and two civilians. Four others remain in critical condition in Windhoek.“There is transport that is earmarked for inmates, and there is transport that is earmarked for officers,” Iipumbu said. “On that date, two vehicles were allocated – the van that later crashed, normally for inmates, and a Toyota Quantum minibus that was supposed to transport the officers. We are going to get to the bottom of what transpired and how the vehicle allocated for inmates ended up transporting the officers.”Potential breachesAlthough the ministry has not confirmed the exact number of passengers in each vehicle, the casualty list strongly suggests the NCS van was severely overloaded. Government Gazette No. 4220 of 2009 prescribes strict passenger limits based on vehicle licensing, raising the possibility of serious breaches.The Namibian Police Traffic Department further confirmed to Namibian Sun that under the Road Traffic and Transport Act 22 of 1999, bakkies and similar vans are permitted to carry a maximum of six passengers at the back – far fewer than the number reportedly present in the vehicle on Saturday.Iipumbu said investigators and wellness officers have been dispatched to assist survivors and families. She added that, while evidence gathering is still underway, “we will establish what went wrong.”The tragedy has drawn sharp criticism within the safety and security sector, with observers questioning whether the improper use of the van contributed to the scale of the loss.MVA steps inThe Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund has pledged comprehensive support to victims and their families. CEO Rosalia Martins-Hausiku said all emergency and medical expenses are being covered, including the ambulance response and mercy flight commissioned on Saturday.“Each injured officer is entitled to medical benefits of up to N$1.5 million, while the families of the deceased will receive N$7 000 towards funeral costs,” she explained. The fund is also fast-tracking death certificates and post-mortems to enable families to access funds quickly.In addition, the MVA provides loss-of-income support for injured officers, dependants’ benefits capped at N$100 000 annually, and educational assistance for children of the deceased. Martins-Hausiku said claims will be expedited in collaboration with the Namibian Police.National mourningThe deceased officers, whose names have now been released by the ministry, will be honoured at a memorial service in Mariental today. Families and the public have been urged not to circulate graphic images of the crash.“This is not only a ministry’s loss, but a national tragedy. We must remain united in grief,” Iipumbu said.

Hardap prison officers died in van designated for inmates

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Namibian Sun 2025-12-08

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Hardap prison officers died in van designated for inmates

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Namibian Sun 2025-12-08

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