Accused blames years of alleged workplace abuse for fatal shooting, court hears

Tuutileni Mikka, the man accused of fatally shooting his supervisor and critically injuring another manager at Henning Crusher in Ondangwa last year, told the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court last week that years of alleged workplace abuse triggered a mental breakdown that led to the violent and deadly outburst. Mikka (49) was testifying during his formal bail hearing. He faces charges of murder, attempted murder, theft of a bicycle, assault by threat and discharging a firearm in a municipal area. He is accused of shooting and killing 43-year-old John Myburgh and seriously injuring 44-year-old Johan Richter, both managers at the company.Alleged abuse and bullying Taking the stand before Magistrate Nelao Ya France, Mikka said he did not know what came over him on the day of the shooting, claiming his “mind escaped” him.He recounted years of alleged mistreatment at the hands of Myburgh and Richter. In one instance, he said, he was wrongly blamed for faulty bricks valued at N$250 000, despite the stock having allegedly been signed off by his manager. In another, he was reportedly ordered to remove a fixed concrete pillar on his own, although the task required machinery or several workers. Mikka told the court that one of his superiors allegedly taunted him in Afrikaans during the ordeal, leaving him feeling humiliated.“When I reached underground that thing could not be removed by one person, as even four people cannot move it. I asked for a tractor to assist me, but I was told to do it myself. His exact words: 'Ons maak jou warm laat jy weet kutcha wie is shilumbu'”, he testified. Final strawMikka, who had legally owned a firearm for nine years without any prior incidents, said the tipping point came on 4 October 2024. He told the court he was eating a meal given to him by a colleague when Myburgh allegedly accused him of violating company policy by eating during working hours. He told the court that he was subsequently summoned to the office to sign a warning letter, which he refused, insisting he had done nothing wrong.“He did not allow me to respond or defend myself. He just kept saying I should make it easy because I had reported the company to the labour office the day before,” Mikka testified. He testified that he had begged for understanding, explaining that he needed his job to support his family, but Myburgh allegedly dismissed him and pushed him out of the office.'Don't know what happened' Mikka told the court that he began shaking and crying uncontrollably as memories of years of the alleged abuse flooded his mind. He said he intended to collect his belongings from his locker and leave but somehow found himself back at the office, disoriented.“I don’t know what happened. I just saw people lying there – one was sitting, the other leaning on the table,” Mikka said, visibly emotional. He added that when he gradually came back to his senses, fear consumed him. Realising the gravity of what had happened, he said he fled the scene on a bicycle and handed himself over to the police.The State plans to present video footage of the shooting during the trial. The bail hearing has been adjourned to 28 and 29 August to allow for a regional court sitting, where the footage can be screened for all present.State prosecutor Tony Bock is representing the prosecution, while Mikka is represented by Samson Enkali of Kadhila Amoomo Legal Practitioners.

Accused blames years of alleged workplace abuse for fatal shooting, court hears

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Namibian Sun 2026-02-16

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Accused blames years of alleged workplace abuse for fatal shooting, court hears

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Namibian Sun 2026-02-16

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