The Okahandja municipality on Saturday cancelled its activities of the planned Tourism and Trade Expo to allow residents to mourn the death of Rosalind Fabian who was killed and was dumped at a graveyard of the town.
The municipality announced this at a media briefing on Saturday morning 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.
About 100 residents of Okahandja on Saturday gathered at the municipality chambers, where the media briefing took place, opposing the hosting of the trade fair, saying the gruesome death of Fabian was still fresh in their minds.
The six-year-old Fabian was reported missing on Thursday after she was dropped at her school, KW Von Marees Combined School, that morning and allegedly did not reach her classroom or return home.
On Friday afternoon, her body was found by community members in a graveyard of the Veddersdal residential area at Okahandja.
Shatty Haihambo, a resident of the town, says it is unfair for the municipality to hold its trade expo when the town is hurt and mourning the death of Fabian.
He further says barely a month ago, another five-year-old, Ingrid Maasdorp, a child of the same school, was also murdered in the same manner.
“Since there will be celebrations at the trade fair, at same time the Fabian family is mourning, it is unacceptable for the municipality to continue with its planned trade fair,” says Haihambo.
Town mayor Beatrice Kotungondo, accompanied by Okahandja chief executive Alfons Tjitombo, agreed to cancel the expo and promised to announce to the public the new dates of the trade fair.
“A special council meeting is expected on Sunday afternoon, to pass a council resolution on the matter and also to announce new dates for the trade fair,” said Kotungondo.
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