Okahandja serial killer on the loose

Okahandja is reeling in shock following the murder of another girl over the weekend, with parents now saying they fear sending their children to school.

The murders of the three girls – Ingrid Maasdorp (5), Roswinds Fabianu (6) and the latest victim Beyonce Kharuxas (15), have sent shockwaves across the nation.

Ingrid was raped and murdered on 20 March, and Roswinds’ body was discovered on Friday behind a gravesite at Vedersdal after being reported missing, while Beyonce’s body was discovered on Saturday.

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

According to police spokesperson deputy commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, the latest victim, Beyonce, had allegedly gone out with her friends to a bar on Friday, when two men offered to buy them drinks. She was found dead and allegedly raped at Five Rand location the next day, fuelling more anger and concern.

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah yesterday visited the bereaved families at Nau-Aib location, alongside some public officials, which included education minister Sanet Steenkamp and her deputy Dino Ballotti.

“Our presence here is to give you comfort, but more importantly, the almighty is the one who knows what happens next,” Nandi-Ndaitwah told Roswinds’ grieving family yesterday.

FEAR IN THE COMMUNITY

Several parents told The Namibian they are reluctant to send their children to school in fear they might be the next victim.

Elma Timotheus, a mother of two from Okahandja, says children are not safe.

“At this point, we do not know who is next, our children are clearly not safe and it will be very ignorant of us to send our children to school although they need the education,” she said on Saturday.

Timotheus said her heart is not at peace with her child going to school.

“Imagine being home and your heart is not at peace because you have sent your children to school. I am not sure anymore whether my children will return home or not.

“Something has to be done and it has to be done urgently, our children are not safe anymore because this person or these people are still not caught, they are among us,” Timotheus said.

The first murder was that of Ingrid, who was raped and murdered at Okahanjda on 21 March.

The Namibian reported that her body was discovered in a riverbed under a bridge, battered and bearing signs of sexual assault.

That morning, Ingrid’s grandfather had dropped her and her cousins at school.

But by the afternoon, Ingrid was missing before she was found dead.

Helena Garises (42), another parent from Okahandja, also expresses disappointment that no culprit has been arrested yet.

She says if by the end of the week, no culprit has been arrested, she will not send her daughter to school.

“As of recently, I do not even allow my daughter to walk or play around anymore, if I cannot walk with them, they stay home,” she says.

Ingrid’s murder has led to a petition titled ‘Justice for Ingrid Maasdorp’, which had garnered over 1 600 signatures by 13 April.

ROSWINDS FABIANU

Just two days ago, another girl went missing and was found murdered.

The search for Roswinds at Okahandja ended with the discovery of her body close to her school, in a suspected case of murder.

She vanished after being dropped off at KW Von Maree Combined School on Thursday morning.

She was allegedly found with stab wounds behind Vredersdal cemetery.

Another parent, Jason Hangala, says many families have started making arrangements to pick up and drop off their children themselves.

“We are living in fear. Even during the day, you cannot be sure that your child is safe. We are seeing young girls disappear and being found dead,” he says.

BEYONCE KHARUXAS

Yesterday, police in the Otjozondjupa region confirmed the murder of a 15-year-old who was found at the Five Rand location at Okahandja on 25 April.

According to the police, Beyonce and her friends went a Bar at around 22h00 on Friday night.

Further information revealed that Beyonce left the bar with a 40-year-old English-speaking man at 01h00.

Her body was discovered the next day at 16h50 in the bushes by a passerby.

No arrests have been made in the three cases yet.

Police spokesperson deputy commissioner Kauna Shikwambi yesterday told The Namibian that the recent incidents at Okahandja are tragic and disturbing.

“Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of the victims. No arrests have been made yet, but we want to assure the public that we are following every lead and utilising all available forensic, technology and investigative methods.

“Our urge to the community is to remain vigilant and to report any information on those cases, no matter how minor it may seem, to the police at Okahandja, immediately. Public cooperation is very vital as that will help us in our investigations,” she said.

Shikwambi urged all parents to prioritise safety and security.

“We continue to appeal to all parents, caregivers and every Namibian to earnestly prioritise safety and security, in all spheres. Let’s not compromise and neglect our lives. Safety of oneself and that of loved ones must come first.

“The police have that obligation, however, cannot be everywhere every time, nor can we shadow each and every person, hence parents should be involved. This absolutely requires collective action,” she said.

DEATH PENALTY

Sebron Shidute, Roswinds’ grandfather, has publicly advocated the reinstatement of the death penalty in Namibia following the tragic death of his grandchild.

“We cannot take this lightly, this person(s) does not deserve to live among us, not even in jail.

“I am calling upon our new government to reconsider this kind of punishment because whoever is doing all of this does not deserve to live,” Shidute says.

Also suggesting a death penalty to be introduced is member of parliament Utaara Mootu.

“This is a very difficult and emotional moment for all of us, however, the most important duty is to be on the ground and see how we can support the community into fast-tracking the investigations and give motions and legislature that will look into child support,” she says.

She adds that introducing the death penalty is controversial but necessary given the rise of violence against children.

Yesterday, minister of education Sanet Steenkamp said she will deploy life skills teachers during her visit to the town.

“I will deploy more life skills teachers from surrounding schools, specifically those trained in counselling, to KW von Marees Combined School starting Monday,” the education ministry said in a statement.

Steenkamp requested Otjozondjupa regional director of education Gerhard Ndafenongo to assess the situation at the school and to work with teachers and principals to listen to and address their views on the matter.

Ballotti, executive director for basic education Edda Bohn, and the education ministry’s director for programmes and quality assurance, Ayesha Wentworth, were also at Okahandja to commiserate with affected family and community members.

Political parties such as Affirmative Repositioning and Independent Patriots for Change yesterday released statements condemning the recent tragedies and demanding justice and urgent action from authorities.

The minister of home affairs, immigration, safety and security, Lucia Iipumbu, says the government is calling for strict monitoring and thorough vetting processes for all individuals entrusted with the care of children.

“As a community, we must remain vigilant and immediately report any suspicious behaviour or concerns regarding the safety of and security of children,” she says.

She encourages communities to act as guardians and parents of children with a collective responsibility to protect the vulnerable.

Meanwhile, the Okahandja municipality on Saturday cancelled the activities of the Tourism and Trade Expo to allow residents to mourn Roswinds’ death.

The municipality announced this at a media briefing at Okahandja, saying the 2025 Tourism and Trade Expo, which was planned for 29 April to 3 May, at the sport stadium at the town, has been postponed indefinitely.