Okahandja slams emergency service failures
Community questions police and ambulance response following young man’s death.
The Okahandja community has raised serious concerns over the apparent failure of emergency and policing services following the fatal stabbing of a 21-year-old man earlier this week.
Benjamin Rukero succumbed to multiple stab wounds to his chest and left shoulder after an incident that occurred on Monday afternoon along the dual carriageway behind Bridge Park in Okahandja.
According to a source who spoke to Namibian Sun, he came across a body lying in the road while going home. The source said he stopped to see and discovered a young man lying in a pool of blood. He immediately attempted to call emergency medical services but was instructed to first contact the police, who would then call the ambulance.
However, when the source contacted the Okahandja Police Station, he was informed that there were no vehicles available to attend to the scene. Emergency services reportedly only arrived several hours later and transported Rukero to Okahandja State Hospital. The source further claimed that a subsequent attempt to contact ambulance services was unsuccessful, as personnel indicated they were busy attending to other patients and could not respond.
Despite efforts by medical staff, Rukero succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday morning at Okahandja state hospital, according to the source.
The incident has reignited public frustration over the availability and responsiveness of emergency services in the town. It also comes in the wake of a statement by Namibian Police Inspector General Joseph Shikongo, who recently instructed officers to stop informing the public that there are no vehicles available to respond to incidents.
The Namibian Police have since launched a manhunt and are appealing to members of the public to assist with information related to the fatal stabbing.
Community members have expressed growing fear and dissatisfaction, stating that they no longer feel safe in Okahandja. Many believe that the institutions tasked with protecting residents are failing to fulfil their responsibilities.
Local resident Jakob Noamab said the tragedy exposes what he described as the collapse of basic government services in the town. He cited a chronic shortage of ambulances, a lack of police vehicles, unanswered emergency calls, delayed or non-existent police responses, poor police visibility and a rise in violent crime as major concerns.
“As taxpayers, we are entitled to safety, emergency medical care and effective policing,” Noamab said. “Bureaucracy, poor coordination and lack of resources must never cost a human life. We demand accountability, urgent intervention and immediate improvement in health and policing services in Okahandja.”
Okahandja Station Commander, Mathias Tjarimba, confirmed that investigations into the incident are ongoing and that no arrests have been made at this stage.
Members of the public are urged to report any information that may assist the investigation to their nearest police station or contact law enforcement authorities.
Benjamin Rukero succumbed to multiple stab wounds to his chest and left shoulder after an incident that occurred on Monday afternoon along the dual carriageway behind Bridge Park in Okahandja.
According to a source who spoke to Namibian Sun, he came across a body lying in the road while going home. The source said he stopped to see and discovered a young man lying in a pool of blood. He immediately attempted to call emergency medical services but was instructed to first contact the police, who would then call the ambulance.
However, when the source contacted the Okahandja Police Station, he was informed that there were no vehicles available to attend to the scene. Emergency services reportedly only arrived several hours later and transported Rukero to Okahandja State Hospital. The source further claimed that a subsequent attempt to contact ambulance services was unsuccessful, as personnel indicated they were busy attending to other patients and could not respond.
Despite efforts by medical staff, Rukero succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday morning at Okahandja state hospital, according to the source.
The incident has reignited public frustration over the availability and responsiveness of emergency services in the town. It also comes in the wake of a statement by Namibian Police Inspector General Joseph Shikongo, who recently instructed officers to stop informing the public that there are no vehicles available to respond to incidents.
The Namibian Police have since launched a manhunt and are appealing to members of the public to assist with information related to the fatal stabbing.
Community members have expressed growing fear and dissatisfaction, stating that they no longer feel safe in Okahandja. Many believe that the institutions tasked with protecting residents are failing to fulfil their responsibilities.
Local resident Jakob Noamab said the tragedy exposes what he described as the collapse of basic government services in the town. He cited a chronic shortage of ambulances, a lack of police vehicles, unanswered emergency calls, delayed or non-existent police responses, poor police visibility and a rise in violent crime as major concerns.
“As taxpayers, we are entitled to safety, emergency medical care and effective policing,” Noamab said. “Bureaucracy, poor coordination and lack of resources must never cost a human life. We demand accountability, urgent intervention and immediate improvement in health and policing services in Okahandja.”
Okahandja Station Commander, Mathias Tjarimba, confirmed that investigations into the incident are ongoing and that no arrests have been made at this stage.
Members of the public are urged to report any information that may assist the investigation to their nearest police station or contact law enforcement authorities.
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