The people of Okahandja are urging authorities to cancel the upcoming Okahandja Expo so the town can focus on the tragic murders of two young girls.
Tensions rose after the body of Rosalind Fabian was discovered yesterday. Rosalind had been missing since Thursday after she left her home in the Klein Saamstaan area on her way to school and was found murdered on Friday.
Her disappearance and death have left the community deeply shocked and heartbroken.
Earlier this month, five-year-old Ingrid Maasdorp was also murdered. Both murder incidents remain unsolved, and the community continues to live in fear as the culprit is still at large, leaving children at risk.
Recently, the Mayor of Okahandja had asked residents to cancel a planned demonstration over Ingrid’s death. However, this request only fueled public outrage, and the discovery of Rosalind’s body has intensified the community’s frustration.
Residents are now not only demanding the cancellation of the Expo but are also calling for stronger police presence in the town. They say action is needed to tackle the growing problems of drug and alcohol abuse, which they believe are contributing to the unsafe environment.
Responding to community concerns, the Mayor of Okahandja announced that the expo will proceed as planned and will not be canceled.
Following extensive discussions between the Okahandja community and officials from the Okahandja municipality urging the cancellation of the Okahandja Tourism Expo, Mayor Beatrice Kotungondo has agreed to consider the possibility of postponing the event. Kotungondo has called on council members and Deputy Minister of Education, Dino Ballotti, to convene and discuss the logistics of postponing the expo.
Many community members feel that the town council has failed to properly address their concerns, especially regarding the right to peacefully protest the murders. As grief and anger continue to spread, Okahandja residents are determined to push for greater safety and justice for their children.
