Community protests bail for accused sexual offenders
• Informal settlement residents feel unheard
Fed-up community members from Havana, Hakahana and Goreangab informal settlements marched on Wednesday to the Katutura Magistrate’s Court, passing supporters of government’s latest #EndGBVNamibia campaign along the way.
They intended to hand over a petition to the court’s head administrator, protesting the repeated granting of bail to suspects accused of gender-based violence (GBV), rape and child sexual abuse.
According to community activist Shaun Asprilla Gariseb, the court official refused to accept the petition.
The petition highlights four cases from the past three years, with all suspects currently out on bail.
A similar protest was staged on 24 August 2024, specifically targeting one of the cases, which had been postponed to 4 June this year. At the time, it was not yet known that the suspect would soon be granted bail.
According to Gariseb, the suspect has since allegedly committed a similar offence.
Not taken seriously
The petition was drafted by Monica Imanga and fellow volunteers from the Home of Good Hope soup kitchen in Goreangab after some of the thousands of children they support each day shared harrowing accounts of abuse.
“As a community, we feel unheard, and we are not taken seriously when we cry out. Not all the children we care for at our soup kitchen have the courage to speak out about what happens to them at home,” the petition states.
“In our communities, the rape of minors has also become a major issue.”
The petition demands that bail be denied in such cases until they are fully resolved. It also calls for the establishment of up to ten mobile police stations in affected communities, increased psychological support for victims, and improved street lighting in neighbourhoods.
They also called for greater awareness to be created by the gender equality and child welfare ministry.
Specialised units
While the petitioners were marching, gender minister Emma Kantema addressed a crowd at UN Plaza in Katutura during the official launch of the #EndGBVNamibia campaign.
She said President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah had already made it clear in her State of the Nation Address in April that Namibia does not tolerate gender-based violence.
Since then, the ministry has strengthened support services for victims, established specialised units in each regional police force, provided training for relevant welfare and law enforcement officials, and engaged communities to raise awareness about what the minister described as a “plague tearing at the fabric of our society”.
Changing mindsets
More than 4 400 GBV related cases were reported to the Namibian police last year, including over 1 300 rapes.
“These are not just numbers – they are lives forever changed,” the minister said.
Research also indicates that many of these crimes are committed by repeat offenders.
“Without intervention, the cycle of violence continues unchecked,” Kantema said.
The latest government campaign focuses on Namibian identity and pride in a society that rejects violence; the empowerment of communities to support victims; strengthening of relevant institutions; research and innovation to better understand and combat the trend; and changing Namibians’ mindset toward violence.
All affected
Presidential spouse retired Lieutenant General Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah made in appearance in support of the event.
Information minister Emma Theofelus praised the the veteran’s involvement as an example of the necessary engagement of men in the fight to move beyond the stigma victims endure.
The minister described #EndGBVNamibia as a social behavioural change communication campaign.
“As Namibians, we are all affected,” the Theofelus said. “We all know someone who was a victim – if not ourselves.”
“Our social behaviour must change for men and women to fight this together. We cannot stop talking about it. Each of us must take responsibility and keep the conversation going, otherwise, we will never win this fight,” she said.
They intended to hand over a petition to the court’s head administrator, protesting the repeated granting of bail to suspects accused of gender-based violence (GBV), rape and child sexual abuse.
According to community activist Shaun Asprilla Gariseb, the court official refused to accept the petition.
The petition highlights four cases from the past three years, with all suspects currently out on bail.
A similar protest was staged on 24 August 2024, specifically targeting one of the cases, which had been postponed to 4 June this year. At the time, it was not yet known that the suspect would soon be granted bail.
According to Gariseb, the suspect has since allegedly committed a similar offence.
Not taken seriously
The petition was drafted by Monica Imanga and fellow volunteers from the Home of Good Hope soup kitchen in Goreangab after some of the thousands of children they support each day shared harrowing accounts of abuse.
“As a community, we feel unheard, and we are not taken seriously when we cry out. Not all the children we care for at our soup kitchen have the courage to speak out about what happens to them at home,” the petition states.
“In our communities, the rape of minors has also become a major issue.”
The petition demands that bail be denied in such cases until they are fully resolved. It also calls for the establishment of up to ten mobile police stations in affected communities, increased psychological support for victims, and improved street lighting in neighbourhoods.
They also called for greater awareness to be created by the gender equality and child welfare ministry.
Specialised units
While the petitioners were marching, gender minister Emma Kantema addressed a crowd at UN Plaza in Katutura during the official launch of the #EndGBVNamibia campaign.
She said President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah had already made it clear in her State of the Nation Address in April that Namibia does not tolerate gender-based violence.
Since then, the ministry has strengthened support services for victims, established specialised units in each regional police force, provided training for relevant welfare and law enforcement officials, and engaged communities to raise awareness about what the minister described as a “plague tearing at the fabric of our society”.
Changing mindsets
More than 4 400 GBV related cases were reported to the Namibian police last year, including over 1 300 rapes.
“These are not just numbers – they are lives forever changed,” the minister said.
Research also indicates that many of these crimes are committed by repeat offenders.
“Without intervention, the cycle of violence continues unchecked,” Kantema said.
The latest government campaign focuses on Namibian identity and pride in a society that rejects violence; the empowerment of communities to support victims; strengthening of relevant institutions; research and innovation to better understand and combat the trend; and changing Namibians’ mindset toward violence.
All affected
Presidential spouse retired Lieutenant General Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah made in appearance in support of the event.
Information minister Emma Theofelus praised the the veteran’s involvement as an example of the necessary engagement of men in the fight to move beyond the stigma victims endure.
The minister described #EndGBVNamibia as a social behavioural change communication campaign.
“As Namibians, we are all affected,” the Theofelus said. “We all know someone who was a victim – if not ourselves.”
“Our social behaviour must change for men and women to fight this together. We cannot stop talking about it. Each of us must take responsibility and keep the conversation going, otherwise, we will never win this fight,” she said.
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