Covid-19: Funeral of Nujoma's sister delayed

STAFF REPORTERWINDHOEKThe family of Founding President Sam Nujoma, who lost his sister to Covid-19 on Friday, plans to delay the burial until after the lockdown is lifted. Elderly Sophia Daniel, who was in Windhoek for a knee treatment, is said to have contracted the virus and died from it on Friday, a day after the latest lockdown came into effect.Under the new regulations, crafted to help contain the spread of Covid-19, movement out of the towns of Windhoek, Walvis Bay, Arandis, Swakopmund, Rehoboth and Okahandja is prohibited – except for essential services.This means the Nujoma family cannot move Daniel's body to the north for burial at Okahao, which is believed to be the preferred burial site.Daniel's nephew, government attorney Matti Asino, yesterday told Namibian Sun that the family planned to repatriate the remains.“We will bury after the lockdown; this is a private matter. This is a family mother,” he said.Safety protocolsCovid-19 victims are required to be buried within 72 hours, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The guidelines further require that Covid-19 victims be buried within localities of their death. Only cremated remains may be transported under strict health protocols.It is not clear whether the Nujoma family plans on cremating Daniel's remains, and whether they would be allowed to delay the funeral beyond WHO stipulations.The current Stage 3 lockdown, announced by President Hage Geingob on Wednesday last week, is to remain in place until August 28.Under current regulations, no more than 10 persons are allowed to gather for any event, including funerals. Health minister Kalumbi Shangula, talking to Namibian Sun on Saturday about how the bodies of the 35 Covid-19 victims have been treated after the country's first death in Walvis Bay caused much commotion, said the remains of victims must be buried in the area where they died.“Covid-19 victims are buried where they passed away. The other option for repatriation is cremation,” he said. Nujoma's sister hailed from Okahao and took over the running of the house of their mother, Helvi Kondombolo, who died in 2008 at the age of 110. Growing numbersAs of Saturday, Namibia had 3 907 confirmed cases of Covid-19. The country has recorded 2 352 recoveries from the highly infectious disease.A total of 35 Covid-19 deaths have been reported in the country so far, while globally over 760 000 people have succumbed to the disease.

Covid-19: Funeral of Nujoma's sister delayed

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-06

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Covid-19: Funeral of Nujoma's sister delayed

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-06

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