Security gate kills policewoman

Questions surround the grisly death of a female police officer who was based at the former Woman and Child Protection Unit at the Katutura hospital.

The woman, who was found dead on Monday at about 20:00, is suspected to have climbed over a security gate at the Gender-based Violence Investigation Unit where she worked.

Detective Sergeant Johanna Ligoleni Angombe (43) was apparently locked in the office and tried to climb over the security gate, which has sharp iron barbs. She allegedly became stuck, suffered extensive injuries and bled to death.

The police yesterday described her death as a “tragic incident” and said that she was found “hanging or hooked” on the iron barbs of the entrance gate.

“The circumstances of her death are not yet clear, but it is suspected that she climbed over the security gate, got stuck and sustained serious 'stab' wounds by the sharp irons. She bled profusely and succumbed to her injuries.”

Her body was discovered by a passer-by who called the police.

Police spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Edwin Kanguatjivi told Namibian Sun that it was suspected that Angombe had been locked in the office and did not have keys for the security gate.

There were rumours that Angombe was unable to make a telephone call to get help, but Kanguatjivi confirmed that there are telephones in the office and that they were in a working condition.

He said further investigation was needed to establish what exactly had happened.

ELLANIE SMIT