Rapes, bloodshed mar weekend

A string of rapes were reported over the weekend, the majority of which involved minors.

A man also allegedly tried to suffocate his wife with a blanket, while another suspect hacked his girlfriend with a panga and then committed suicide.

According to the police, the suspect on Saturday hacked his 30-year-old girlfriend with a panga on the head and hands, causing her multiple injuries.

The incident happened at the Murura location in Katutura.

The man allegedly also cut himself with the same panga, before fleeing the scene in his car. He then committed suicide by hanging himself with a plastic rope in bushes in the Okapuka area.

His vehicle and the panga were found in the vicinity of the body.

The woman is in a serious condition in the Katutura state hospital.

In another incident, a 30-year-old man was arrested on Saturday after he attempted to suffocate his 27-year-old wife with a blanket at Matutura in Swakopmund.

This followed an argument. Damage was caused to property valued at N$8 000.

On Friday, an 11-year-old girl was raped by an unknown suspect in Rehoboth. The incident took place behind the Lutheran church in Block E, where the suspect grabbed the victim from behind, while she was on her way her aunt's house.

The suspect, who has not been arrested, allegedly strangled the girl before raping her.

In a separate incident, a 14-year-old girl was raped while under the influence of alcohol on Friday at Mondesa.

According to the police, the suspect is known as 'Lucky', but has not been arrested.

He apparently met the girl at a party in the DRC informal settlement. He later took the victim to his shack, also in DRC, and allegedly raped her while she was under the influence of alcohol.

The girl's mother became worried and started to look for her. She was told by a relative where the girl was and found her alone in the shack.

At Eenhana, a 15-year-old girl was raped on Friday night by a 21-year-old man.

It is alleged that the suspect entered the room in which the victim was sleeping and raped her.

The victim was apparently visiting the same residence where the suspect was staying. The suspect has been arrested.

Also on Friday, a 13-year-old girl was raped by a family member inside an Onandova village homestead. It is alleged that the suspect went into the victim's house, pulled her into a room and raped her. The suspect is the nephew of victim's father and lives at another residence.

He has not been arrested.

In another case, a 27-year-old woman was raped by a 24-year-old man, while she was under the influence of alcohol at Arandis on Saturday.

The man and woman were drinking together at the suspect's home where the rape incident took place. The suspect was arrested.

On Sunday, a 31-year-old man was arrested at Rehoboth, after he allegedly stabbed his 41-year-old uncle on Sunday with a broken bottle on both arms, after an argument. The uncle was rushed to St Mary's hospital where he was admitted, but later succumbed to his injuries.

In a separate incident, a 30-year-old man was hacked with a panga on Friday at Akazulu village in the Engodi constituency, when he attempted to defend his ex-girlfriend.

According to the police, the victim was hacked on the head and he sustained an open wound. He also struck the 30-year-old suspect with a knobkerrie on the head.

A fight apparently erupted after the complainant defended his ex-girlfriend, who is also the mother of his three children. He was transferred to Onandjokwe state hospital in a serious condition. The suspect was discharged from the hospital and arrested.

In a separate incident, a 25-year-old man was fatally stabbed on Friday at Onheleiwa village near Okatope in the Ondobe constituency.

It is alleged that a 26-year-old man stabbed the victim on the right side of his chest with an okapi knife. The victim died on the spot.

According to the police, a fight erupted between the two men on Thursday night at the Ilawalya business point in Okatope village. The suspect was assaulted with an empty beer bottle on the right cheek by the victim and sustained serious injuries. The deceased, Jason Shadjanale Shiweda, immediately left the scene and went to his house.

The suspect allegedly also went to his house and collected an okapi knife, before following Shiweda to his homestead. He then stabbed Shiweda. The suspect has been arrested and the murder weapon was recovered. He was taken to the Engela district hospital for treatment and was later discharged into police custody.

ELLANIE SMIT