Omundaungilo mourns Nashikoto (105)
Rusia Nashikoto Hamukanda, who died on Friday evening at the age of 105, will be buried this Friday.
ILENI NANDJATO
OSHAKATI
The community of Omundaungilo is raising funds for a proper send-off for the late Rusia Nashikoto Hamukanda, who died on Friday evening at the age of 105.
The former governor of Ohangwena, Usko Nghaamwa, has donated a steer for a funeral feast.
Hamukanda was a member of the Omundaungilo San community in the Ohangwena Region.
Funeral arrangements
The regional development planner in the office of the vice-president, Puleinge Tomas, says the office will pay for the funeral service but needs assistance from the community to cover the traditional funeral feast.
“It's the responsibility of our office to bury members of the marginalised communities, however we only provide funeral services. We are glad that former governor Usko Nghaamwa has donated a steer. We are also waiting for many other people who declared interest to support,” Tomas said.
The regional councillor for the Omundaungilo constituency, Festus Ikanda, said the funeral was planned for tomorrow but they had to negotiate with the family to postpone it to Friday.
“We understand that there are some people from the office of the vice-president who would like to be part of the funeral, and therefore we have to consult the family to hear what they are saying. The late was a most senior citizen in our community and we therefore would like to give her an honorary respect (sic),” Ikanda said.
Deplorable conditions
Hamukanda was one of three destitute elders who featured in Namibian Sun's exposé on living conditions at Omundaungilo in February 2017. Two of these elders have now died and only one is left.
After several reports highlighting the plight of the San people who had been living in deplorable conditions for years, the government released funds to erect dozens of corrugated-iron structures Omundaungilo to replace the rag tents the people were living in.
Many of the residents, who were not receiving any form of government grants, were later registered for assistance by home affairs officials.
OSHAKATI
The community of Omundaungilo is raising funds for a proper send-off for the late Rusia Nashikoto Hamukanda, who died on Friday evening at the age of 105.
The former governor of Ohangwena, Usko Nghaamwa, has donated a steer for a funeral feast.
Hamukanda was a member of the Omundaungilo San community in the Ohangwena Region.
Funeral arrangements
The regional development planner in the office of the vice-president, Puleinge Tomas, says the office will pay for the funeral service but needs assistance from the community to cover the traditional funeral feast.
“It's the responsibility of our office to bury members of the marginalised communities, however we only provide funeral services. We are glad that former governor Usko Nghaamwa has donated a steer. We are also waiting for many other people who declared interest to support,” Tomas said.
The regional councillor for the Omundaungilo constituency, Festus Ikanda, said the funeral was planned for tomorrow but they had to negotiate with the family to postpone it to Friday.
“We understand that there are some people from the office of the vice-president who would like to be part of the funeral, and therefore we have to consult the family to hear what they are saying. The late was a most senior citizen in our community and we therefore would like to give her an honorary respect (sic),” Ikanda said.
Deplorable conditions
Hamukanda was one of three destitute elders who featured in Namibian Sun's exposé on living conditions at Omundaungilo in February 2017. Two of these elders have now died and only one is left.
After several reports highlighting the plight of the San people who had been living in deplorable conditions for years, the government released funds to erect dozens of corrugated-iron structures Omundaungilo to replace the rag tents the people were living in.
Many of the residents, who were not receiving any form of government grants, were later registered for assistance by home affairs officials.
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