Two families identify skeletal remains

Two families have approached the Namibian Police to identify the remains that were recently discovered at a lodge outside of Otjiwarongo.

Pieces of a human skeleton were discovered by last week Sunday by a worker at Otjiwa Lodge while he was searching for mushrooms.

Allegedly only the skull, arm and thigh bones were found. Blue trousers and shorts were also found in the vicinity.

According to Otjozondjupa regional police spokesperson Warrant Officer Maureen Mbeha, two different families have approached the police to identify the remains.

She said one of the families is from the Erongo Region and another family from the north of Namibia.

According to Mbeha they are aware of a 34-year-old farmworker who went missing from a farm near Otjiwarongo in April last year.

Aktofeli Jason Shipanga disappeared on 2 April from the farm Tottenham, 40 kilometres south of Otjiwarongo. He had arrived at the farm three days earlier. Shipanga was from Onambeke village near Onyaanya.

Mbeha said the other family from Erongo was advised by a “prophet” that a missing family member would be in the Otjozondjupa area and therefore they approached the police when the remains were found. The police do not have any information about this missing person.

Both families will give DNA samples for identification purposes.

“This will take some time, but as soon as the person is properly identified we will notify the public accordingly,” Mbeha said.

ELLANIE SMIT