A 20-year-old man, accused of raping a 68-year-old woman in Dingandu village in the Kavango East Region, has been denied bail following his court appearance at the Rundu Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
The suspect, identified as Kativa Johannes Kamanga, was arrested earlier this week after reportedly attacking the elderly woman on Tuesday. According to police reports, Kamanga allegedly stalked the pensioner before sexually assaulting her.
During the court proceedings, the state strongly opposed his release on bail, citing the severity of the crime and Kamanga’s troubling criminal history. It emerged during the hearing that the accused is linked to two previous rape cases. In 2021, he was charged under the name Joseph Mukuyungo for a similar offence, and again in 2023 under his current identity. Authorities suspect that he has been using multiple identities to conceal his past offences and avoid detection.
Police investigators also believe Kamanga has deliberately been targeting elderly women, raising concerns about him being a repeat offender with a specific pattern of victimization.
The court, agreeing with the state’s objections, ordered that Kamanga remain in custody while investigations continue.
Meanwhile, police have urged members of the public, especially in remote villages, to remain vigilant and to immediately report suspicious individuals or similar incidents.
