Okahandja residents slam emergency service failures after fatal stabbing
Aurelia AfrikanerWindhoek
The Okahandja community has raised serious concerns over the apparent failure of emergency and policing services following the fatal stabbing of a 21-year-old man earlier this week.
Benjamin Rukero succumbed to multiple stab wounds to his chest and left shoulder after an incident on Monday afternoon along the dual carriageway behind Bridge Park in Okahandja.
According to a source who spoke to Namibian Sun, he came across Rukero lying in the road while returning home and found him in a pool of blood. The witness immediately attempted to contact emergency medical services but was instructed to first notify the police, who would then call an ambulance.
When the source contacted the Okahandja police station, he was allegedly informed that no vehicles were available to attend to the scene. Emergency services reportedly only arrived several hours later, transporting Rukero to Okahandja State Hospital.
The source further claimed that a separate attempt to contact ambulance services was unsuccessful, with personnel indicating they were attending to other patients and could not respond.
Despite medical intervention, Rukero died from his injuries on Tuesday morning at Okahandja State Hospital.
Public frustration and
safety fears
The incident has reignited public frustration over the availability and responsiveness of emergency services in the town. It follows a recent directive by Joseph Shikongo instructing officers to stop informing members of the public that police vehicles are unavailable when responding to incidents.
Community members say they no longer feel safe and believe institutions tasked with protecting residents are failing in their duties.
Local resident Jakob Noamab said the tragedy reflects a broader collapse of basic services in Okahandja. He cited shortages of ambulances and police vehicles, unanswered emergency calls, delayed or absent police responses, poor visibility of officers and rising violent crime as key concerns.
“As taxpayers, we are entitled to safety, emergency medical care and effective policing,” Noamab said. “Bureaucracy, poor coordination and lack of resources must never cost a human life. We demand accountability, urgent intervention and immediate improvement in health and policing services in Okahandja.”
Investigation continues
Okahandja station commander Mathias Tjarimba confirmed that investigations into the stabbing are ongoing and that no arrests have been made at this stage.
Police have launched a manhunt and are appealing to members of the public to provide any information that may assist the investigation to their nearest police station or law enforcement authorities.
The Okahandja community has raised serious concerns over the apparent failure of emergency and policing services following the fatal stabbing of a 21-year-old man earlier this week.
Benjamin Rukero succumbed to multiple stab wounds to his chest and left shoulder after an incident on Monday afternoon along the dual carriageway behind Bridge Park in Okahandja.
According to a source who spoke to Namibian Sun, he came across Rukero lying in the road while returning home and found him in a pool of blood. The witness immediately attempted to contact emergency medical services but was instructed to first notify the police, who would then call an ambulance.
When the source contacted the Okahandja police station, he was allegedly informed that no vehicles were available to attend to the scene. Emergency services reportedly only arrived several hours later, transporting Rukero to Okahandja State Hospital.
The source further claimed that a separate attempt to contact ambulance services was unsuccessful, with personnel indicating they were attending to other patients and could not respond.
Despite medical intervention, Rukero died from his injuries on Tuesday morning at Okahandja State Hospital.
Public frustration and
safety fears
The incident has reignited public frustration over the availability and responsiveness of emergency services in the town. It follows a recent directive by Joseph Shikongo instructing officers to stop informing members of the public that police vehicles are unavailable when responding to incidents.
Community members say they no longer feel safe and believe institutions tasked with protecting residents are failing in their duties.
Local resident Jakob Noamab said the tragedy reflects a broader collapse of basic services in Okahandja. He cited shortages of ambulances and police vehicles, unanswered emergency calls, delayed or absent police responses, poor visibility of officers and rising violent crime as key concerns.
“As taxpayers, we are entitled to safety, emergency medical care and effective policing,” Noamab said. “Bureaucracy, poor coordination and lack of resources must never cost a human life. We demand accountability, urgent intervention and immediate improvement in health and policing services in Okahandja.”
Investigation continues
Okahandja station commander Mathias Tjarimba confirmed that investigations into the stabbing are ongoing and that no arrests have been made at this stage.
Police have launched a manhunt and are appealing to members of the public to provide any information that may assist the investigation to their nearest police station or law enforcement authorities.
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