Police refute claims of vehicle misuse after audio circulates

The police have dismissed allegations circulating on social media that a police vehicle was misused for private purposes in the Oshikango area, describing the claims as false and misleading.

In a statement issued on Friday afternoon, national police spokesperson Kauna Shikwambi said the police had taken note of audio recordings shared online by Toivo Simeon, also known as Potgieter Vilho, alleging that a police vehicle was used to tow a private trailer for a wedding, and that fuel, referred to as “ngungula”, was misused.

Shikwambi said the incident referred to in the recordings did not occur at Oshikango and was not linked to any private function.

According to the police, the incident took place on 17 May 2024 in the Fransfontein area during an operation linked to a reported stock theft case involving three donkeys.

“Following preliminary investigations, the stolen donkeys were successfully recovered on 22 May 2024, and two suspects were arrested in connection with the case,” the statement reads.

Arrangements were then made to return the recovered animals to the complainant.

As part of the operation, a police vehicle was dispatched from the Khorixas Police Station to collect the donkeys from the Uis area.

Shikwambi says the police vehicle used the complainant’s private trailer to transport the animals back to Fransfontein, where they were handed over to the owner.

“At no point was the police vehicle used for private purposes, nor was fuel misused as alleged,” the police say, adding that all actions were carried out in line with policing duties and operational requirements related to the investigation.

The police have urged members of the public seeking further information to contact the Kunene regional police commander.

Shikwambi cautions against initiating or circulating untrue, misleading or defamatory information, particularly on social media platforms, and encourages the public to verify information with the relevant authorities before sharing it.

“The police remain committed to transparency, accountability and professional service delivery,” she says.

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