NAMIBIAN Defence Force warrant officer Hendrik Petrus Coetzee (59), who had served in the army since independence, was murdered at his plot at Otjimbingwe on Saturday.
Coetzee, who would have retired next July, was allegedly murdered by his 22-year-old worker, who was arrested at Rundu yesterday.
Erongo crime investigations coordinator Erastus Iikuyu confirmed the suspect’s arrest, saying that he was expected to appear in the Karibib Magistrate’s Court today on murder charges, kidnapping and theft. Coetzee’s daughter, Edwina Mobbison, told The Namibian yesterday that the family had employed the man, who is from Rundu, only three weeks ago.
On Saturday, she said, her mother Maria (56) was in the house and her husband was milking goats some distance from the house. The suspect then entered and threatened Maria with a panga, demanding that she give him Hendrik’s firearm.
Maria allegedly told the suspect that they did not have a firearm, and the suspect proceeded to search the house in vain.
Instead, he took an axe and walked to where Hendrik was, and attacked him with it.
Manganda then returned to the house, took some belongings, packed them into the Coetzees’ GWM bakkie, and forced Maria into the vehicle before driving away towards Wilhelmstal.
According to Mobbison, the suspect lost control of the vehicle, and it overturned about 35 kilometres from Otjimbingwe.
Mobbison said the suspect fled the scene, leaving Maria, who had sustained bruises from the seatbelt, stranded. Maria walked a few kilometres towards Otjimbingwe before some people assisted her.
Motorists travelling from Windhoek towards Otjimbingwe also notified the police of what had happened.
Maria was then taken to her daughter, and they are now mourning the death of their loved one.
“My mother said he (the suspect) was a peaceful young man, who talked nicely about my dad. This is a shock to all of us,” said Mobbison, adding that her mother and Hendrik had five children.
“My mom said all she could do from the time he threatened her with the panga to the attack, was just to remain calm.”
Colonel Patrick Beukes of the NDF’s headquarters in Windhoek said it was a significant loss for the NDF and the disabled community, as Coetzee was very involved with the National Disability Council of Namibia and the visually impaired society. He also had a disability in his leg.
“He was almost like a brother to me. He was a hardworking soldier, and was proud to be a soldier,” said Beukes. “It is truly a sad thing that this happened.”
Representatives at the disability council told this newspaper that Coetzee was involved in awareness activities, and that the news of his death was received with sadness.
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