Okahandja families frustrated as child murder cases remain unsolved for months

Months after the tragic murder of Ingrid Maasdorp (5), Roswinds Fabianu (6) and Beyoncé !Kharuxas (15), their families are growing increasingly frustrated as the killer(s) remain free and no arrest has been made.

Speaking to The Namibian yesterday, Ingrid’s grandmother, Dollie Maasdorp, announced plans for another protest, saying only public pressure will force the authorities to act.

“I wake up every day hoping to get a call that the killer has been arrested, but there has been nothing to date. What makes it worse is knowing that the killer is out there walking free. I’ve made it part of my schedule to constantly call the police to ask them how far they are solving the cases, but I’m hearing the same thing every day – we are still investigating,” she said.

Ingrid was discovered raped and murdered at Okahandja on 20 March.

“Honestly, the Namibian Police are really failing us. There is no way that until now no one has been arrested yet. I believe they only put in effort during the time of the murders, but know they are completely quiet.

“I sometimes wish to take the law into my hands and do my own investigations,” Maasdorp said.

Roswinds and Beyoncé were killed in similar ways at the same town.

Both Ingrid and Roswinds were pupils at KW von Marees Combined School, with their bodies discovered close to the school.

Roswinds’ body was discovered on 24 April and Beyoncé’s on 26 April.

National police spokesperson deputy commissioner Kauna Shikwambi says Beyoncé! had allegedly visited a bar with friends, where two men offered to buy them drinks.

She was found dead and allegedly raped at Five Rand informal settlement the next day, fuelling more anger and panic.

Beyoncé’s aunt, Ndinelago Ernestu (29), who lived with her at Okahandja, says: “We are constantly trying to call the police. I personally even decided to go visit the stations just to get an update on how far the matter has gone, but nothing.

“When we visit the police stations to ask how far the investigations are, we are told we are putting them under so much pressure and we should give them time.

“But how much more time do we need to give them? We are tired of waiting and not hearing any news,” she says.

Ernestu says the family has been relying on social media for updates, but only fake news is available.

Roswinds’ father, Paulus Fabianu, believes the police have given up on the case.

“At this point, I’m really just trying to heal and somehow I am very discouraged by the police due to how silent they are.

I don’t even know what to do or say. I lost my daughter – just like that,” he says.

The Namibian reached out to Shikwambi who promised to update the media soon.

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