Woman beheaded by boyfriend

An overview of new gender-based violence (GBV) cases being investigated by the police since late July, show that the epidemic of the rape, assault and murder of women at the hands of men they trust or even strangers, remains rampant. In the most recent crime report from the police, a 22-year-old woman's head was chopped off with an axe by her boyfriend last week in the Gobabis area, allegedly for suspecting her of having an affair. The macabre murder occurred on Thursday around 09:00 at Farm Dabis in the Trans-Kalahari area because the man suspected that the victim was cheating on him with someone else. She died at the scene as her boyfriend fled. He was arrested later on the same day and is expected to appear in court today. The victim was identified as Martha Afrikaner. Then, on Wednesday last week, just after midnight at Ombili location, it is alleged a 15-year-old girl was raped by a 22-year-old man. The suspect apparently took the victim from her residence to his residence and raped her. The suspect has arrested.At least eight cases related to murder and assault against a woman at the hands of her intimate partner, were opened by Namibian police since late July this year, including the most recent murder of a woman by a man she had been in a relationship with for nine years, and with whom she shared two children. Moreover, in late July, 23-year-old Rauha Kamati, was reportedly killed after she was beaten to death with a mahangu pounding stick by her 23-year-old boyfriend.In late September, a 23-year-old woman, Bendeka Hanna Rauha, died after she was “hacked to death” by her alleged boyfriend, the 22-year-old Hashiko Teofilus, who later committed suicide.A 49-year-old woman, Anna Scott, was found dead after she was beaten and killed by her 53-year-old husband on a farm in the Kalkrand area at the start of August.In addition, at least 15 cases of rape of women 16 or older, either at the hands of intimate partners or strangers, were opened with police. Several more cases of rape of juvenile girls aged 15 or younger, were also reported. A case of rape was opened against a 54-year-old man, accused of raping his 18-year-old daughter in mid-September. Police said the suspect had allegedly raped the girl “on numerous occasions, but it was not reported to the police as the suspect allegedly promised the victim money”.In another case, an 18-year-old girl accused her father of repeatedly raping her, which resulted in her pregnancy. At least two cases of gang rape are being investigated by police, after three men were arrested after they allegedly raped a 35-year-old woman in Aroab on 5 August.In another case, a 26-year-old woman was raped near a bar in Katima Mulilo by three male suspects. Two men remain on the run, while one was arrested. In March last year, deputy commissioner Johanne Situde, the head of the police's GBV division, said that more than 50 000 crimes related to GBV, including murder, rape and assault, had been reported over the previous three years. UN resident coordinator and UNDP representative in Namibia Anita Kiki Gbeho shared notable statistics at the launch of the 16 Days of Activism against GBV in November last year. She said that of married women aged 15 to 49, researchers have found that “33% have experienced physical, sexual, and/or emotional violence from their spouse and have also suffered one or more physical injuries.”Moreover, 15% of women who experienced physical violence never sought help and a total of 28% of women and 22% of men aged 15-49 justified beating as an acceptable way for a husband to discipline his wife. About 7% of girls in Namibia are married before the age of 18, she said.JANA-MARI SMITH

Woman beheaded by boyfriend

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Namibian Sun 2026-09-25

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Woman beheaded by boyfriend

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Namibian Sun 2026-09-25

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