Fire consumes shacks, homestead

A devastating fire gutted the shacks of 10 families in Walvis Bay while police suspect an angry husband committed arson and destroyed an entire homestead, including a shebeen, on Tuesday.In another case reported by police, an 11-year-old girl was raped near a cuca shop and two young children, a seven-year-old boy and an 11-year old girl were admitted to hospital after they were both hit by cars while crossing a road.The shack fire on Monday afternoon broke out at a house in Tutaleni, in Walvis Bay, and “10 shacks were totally destroyed by the fire” the Namibian police said.The police say they suspect an illegal electrical connection was the cause of the fire, although investigations continue. A statement from Deputy Commissioner Erastus Iikuyu on the fire noted that all of the property and items stored in the shacks were burnt beyond recognition.No injuries were reported and investigations continue, police confirmed. The Namibian police are also investigating a case of arson, where they suspect a fire which consumed an entire homestead in the Kavango West Region, including a shebeen and a warehouse, was intentionally set by a suspect after a fight with his wife over house keys.The police report noted that the fire destroyed a homestead in Mavanze village, in the Kavango West Region.“It is alleged that the suspect intentionally set the homestead of the complainant on fire, after he had a misunderstanding with his wife over the house keys which were left at the complainant's residence without his knowledge.”The police say the wife, whose name is not made public, sustained a head injury during the fight, and that the fire destroyed, among other things, a Toyota Tazz, a fully stocked food storage room, two bedrooms containing various belongings and documentation, and an electrical cable room.The police reported that a “fully packed shebeen” was also consumed as well as a “shebeen warehouse”.The suspect has been arrested and the police investigations continue.Police also say they are investigating the rape of an 11-year-old girl at Eenhana, who was allegedly kidnapped by a suspect, age and name not made public, on Tuesday, and raped near a shebeen. The suspect was arrested and investigations continue. On Monday, police around the country opened at least four cases of negligent and reckless driving.With both his legs broken in addition to multiple other injuries, a seven-year-old boy was admitted to the Rundu hospital on Monday afternoon, after he was hit by a Nissan bakkie, driven by a 36-year-old man from Kasote village.The driver was charged with reckless or negligent driving, and police say the boy remains in critical condition in hospital. Another case of reckless driving was opened on Monday at Henties Bay, when a young girl was hit by a motor vehicle. She sustained moderate injuries and was admitted to hospital.The police did not indicate whether a suspect was arrested.A 64-year-old man's leg was broken in the Omusati Region, at the Onandjaba settlement, after another 64-year-old man driving a white Toyota bakkie bumped into him as he was crossing the road.The driver was also charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and arrested.The driver of a white Land Rover who lost control and overturned the vehicle on the main road between Mariental and Keetmanshoop on Monday, was charged with reckless and negligent driving. The man was driving with four Swiss passengers on board, one of whom broke her left elbow and another passenger her left arm. The other two passengers were uninjured.Four suicides are also being investigated by the police since Sunday. An 81-year-old Swakopmund pensioner, Joachim Adalbert Kulik, was found dead by a domestic worker on Monday morning at his home in Kramersdorf, Swakopmund. “It is alleged that the deceased shot himself with a pistol in front of his flat. No suicide note was left behind,” the police reported. No foul play is suspected.On Tuesday morning, the decomposed body of an unidentified male was discovered hanging on a tree behind the fire brigade headquarters in Windhoek.The man allegedly hanged himself and was in his mid-40s.Police are also conducting an inquest into the death of Andreas Iitope, 31-years-old, who was found hanging from a tree in a mahangu field at Ongulayanetanga village. Iitope left no suicide note behind.On Tuesday, at a farm near Gobabis, the body of a 60 year-old man, Petrus Beukes was also found hanging from a tree. He also didn't leave behind a suicide note, the police confirmed.JANA-MARI SMITH

Fire consumes shacks, homestead

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-08

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Fire consumes shacks, homestead

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-08

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