Sex tape causes outcry

There has been outrage from local gender activists who are lashing out at the Namibian public for not only condoning but actually promoting the exposure of leaked pornography visuals on social media platforms. The anger follows the leaking of pornographic videos of a couple, which went viral on Facebook. Voicing the same concern, Chief Inspector Kauna Shikwambi and Misa Namibia director Natasha Tibinyane said in the absence of legislation that regulates the use of social media, there is very little that can be done about this growing trend.The leaked sex tape visuals that went viral on Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp platforms were allegedly taken by Sakeus Shoolongo and show a naked woman straddling him and fondling him. Another shot of the woman shows her walking naked into a room, seemingly unaware that she was being filmed. The videos were leaked along with the recording of a phone call where Shoolongo is heard telling a woman that he doesn't care to know where her husband comes from as long as he will be her second husband. The woman tells Shoolongo that her husband was driving to the North the following day. Shikwambi urged the public to be cautious when in romantic relationships. “For the past two years we have been trying to acquire a law that regulates the use of social media. Here we have a victim whose rights have been violated and she should be at liberty to open a case because that is a case of defamation of character,” said Shikwambi.Namibia has a cybercrime bill which is still on ice after it was sent back due to violations of certain rights. It is hoped that the legislation will be passed this year.Revenge porn or the exposure of sexual activities after a couple ends a relationship has become a trend in Namibia. Last year a sex video of a Unam student distributed by her boyfriend also went viral.Human rights lawyer Norman Tjombe in another case involving the Unam student described such actions, including the distribution and sharing of such material as crimen injuria and an offence punishable by law if one is caught distributing the pornographic footage. Natasha Tibinyane said as a society, people need to learn and recognise that we live in a digital world. “People will have the same behaviour whether online or offline. We have an issue of revenge porn and it is a way of humiliating and bullying somebody else, and it is usually women who are the victims. I urge them to be careful,” warned Tibinyane. Shoolongo on his Facebook page denied that he was the culprit saying he did not have access to his Facebook account. In the post he blames his ex-girlfriend Maria Ipito for uploading the content and said that he is sorry. A few hours later, a document circulated on WhatsApp issued by Norman Tjombe, instructing Shoolongo to apologise to Ipito before 18:00 on Monday, 23 January or face legal action. A secretary at the Tjombe-Elago law firm confirmed that the letter to Shoolongo was indeed issued by the law firm. Shoolongo could be reached for comment. Don't circulateExpressing her concern, Shikwambi urged Namibians to refrain from circulating humiliating videos and photos on social media. “This is a mother, a wife, a daughter and sister to someone and now she is defamed. Nobody is perfect, we all make mistakes, but morally people should understand that it is very bad to humiliate anyone like that.” Shikwambi also said the video has gone viral and because the initiator is still unknown, the best is for the victim to open a case in order for investigations to commence. JUNE SHIMUOSHILI

Sex tape causes outcry

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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Sex tape causes outcry

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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