Juanita Karolus: No leads, six months later

Six months after Keetmanshoop’s Juanita Karolus (33) was found murdered in Windhoek, the police have made no arrest, prompting calls for improved investigations to resolve mounting cold cases.

Karolus’ remains were discovered behind a school in a riverbed in Windhoek by a passerby on 3 October last year.

National police spokesperson deputy commissioner Kauna Shikwambi on Wednesday said no witness has come forward since.

Although some have been pointed out for interrogation, there was no link to the case.

The police investigation is ongoing. There is no reward at the moment, but we still call on the public to speak out without fear.

They will be anonymous,” she said.

Karolus family spokesperson Adold Kahambia on Wednesday said the family remains hopeful and are praying for a suspect to be arrested.

“I spoke to the police two weeks ago, but there is no new information yet.

There is no progress. There is nothing we can do about it, but we trust the process and system.

There are new cases, and we just feel like this case is falling behind,” he said.

Kahambia said the family’s hands are tied, adding they are hoping the police would interrogate more people until justice is served.

Karolus left behind a daughter aged 14.

The police last October released video footage showing Karolus walking alongside the road with an unidentified man shortly before her body was discovered.

Gender and social activist Rosa Namises says there is a need for more investigative police officers and improved investigation in the country.

“The cases are piling up on police shelves and perpetrators are motivated to commit more crimes, seeing that some suspects are not caught after committing crimes.

They are killing because they know they are likely not to be found,” she says.

Namises further points to the murder of Okahandja pupils, of which the perpetrators have not been arrested yet.

“This is not a good sign.

This shows the quality we are being served with,” she says.

Namises says this prolongs grief for bereaved families.

When the justice system is visible it additionally creates public trust.

There is a need for more police officers, ensuring investigations are not halted “when it goes silent”, she says.

Namises calls on communities to provide the police with information that could lead to suspects’ arrest.

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