Child murder, rape and robberies dominate weekend crime

Several violent crimes, including the alleged murder of a toddler, sexual assaults, and multiple armed robberies, were reported across Namibia over the weekend.

One of the most serious incidents occurred on Friday afternoon in Okandjengedi, Oshakati, where a toddler was allegedly deliberatly drowned in a pond. Police arrested the suspect, the child’s 36-year-old mother.

Two rape cases were also reported over the weekend. In Onayena, early Sunday morning around 00:30, a 16-year-old girl was allegedly raped by her 34-year-old biological father. According to police, the suspect had been visiting when the incident occurred after the girl went to his room to talk to him.

Housemates allegedly discovered them and alerted authorities. The suspect has been arrested and is expected to appear in the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court.

Another rape case was reported early Saturday morning in the DRC location in Otjiwarongo. Police said a 24-year-old woman who was walking home from a bar was allegedly grabbed by a man known to her, forced into his bedroom and raped. No arrest has been made, and police investigations continue.

Robberies

Several robbery incidents were reported in Windhoek over the weekend. On Friday morning, in Cimbebacia, a 19-year-old man was robbed while on his way to work. Police said three suspects armed with a pistol, a knife and a plank approached him and stole his cellphone and backpack valued at N$2 500. The victim was not injured, and no arrests have been made.

Another robbery was reported early Saturday morning around 02:30 in Wells Street, Windhoek West, where suspects allegedly threatened a victim and his family with firearms and knives before stealing a cellphone. Later that day, around midday at the traffic lights at Bent Karlsson Street and Hendrik Witbooi Road in Pioneerspark Extension 1, four suspects allegedly robbed a man at gunpoint while armed with a firearm, pangas, and a knife, taking his cellphone, cash, and a cap.

In a separate incident near Prosperita in Windhoek on Saturday morning, around 10:00, four suspects allegedly pointed a firearm at a man who was disposing of refuse, assaulted him, and hacked him with a panga before robbing him of his belongings.

A taxi driver was also targeted in Katutura on Friday night, around 20:00, under the Lafrenz bridge along Eneas Nanyemba Street. Police said two suspects stopped the taxi, forcibly entered the vehicle, and threatened the driver with a firearm before stealing N$1 800 in cash and the white Mazda Demio he was driving. The vehicle was later recovered, but no arrests have been made.

In Rehoboth, suspects allegedly broke into a house at Bergershoek late on Friday night. Armed with a panga, they threatened the occupant and stole N$400, a cellphone, and a pair of sneakers before fleeing.

At Old Ongwediva, suspects allegedly removed a padlock from burglar bars and broke into a house between midnight and 05:00 on Friday, stealing items including a cellphone, jewellery, shoes and clothing valued at N$71 700. Another housebreaking was reported on Saturday evening around 17:50 in Corvus Street in Dorado Park, where suspects allegedly broke a yard gate, cut burglar bars, and gained entry into the house before stealing electronic devices worth N$75 540.

Violence, drugs and more

In Rundu, police are investigating an attempted murder case after a man was shot during a house break-in at Hirkka Park early Sunday morning. Three suspects allegedly forced open the victim’s door with a screwdriver, removed the keys from the door and shot him with a firearm. The victim sustained injuries and was admitted to the hospital.

Drug-related arrests were also recorded. In Aus, a 43-year-old man was arrested after police allegedly found him in possession of mandrax tablets and cash suspected to be proceeds of drug dealing. In Kavango West, a 22-year-old man was arrested at Karanawa Village after police allegedly found him with cannabis. Another suspect was arrested at the Rundu Police Station after allegedly attempting to smuggle cannabis, cigarettes and a cellphone through the charge office counter.

Authorities also reported financial crimes and cross-border offences. At the Noordoewer border post early Saturday morning, a 43-year-old Angolan national was arrested after allegedly being found in possession of large amounts of undeclared foreign currency. 

In Katutura, a complainant reported that N$17 500 was withdrawn from their bank account without consent, while another victim reported losing N$13 000 in a rental scam after sending money to secure accommodation that was never provided.

Police in Tsumeb also arrested a suspect after allegedly discovering suspected unpolished diamonds wrapped in socks inside a travel bag during a search. The suspect allegedly did not have a permit or documentation to possess the stones and is expected to appear in the Tsumeb Magistrate’s Court.