Logo

Missing Boy from Kavango East Found After 15 Years in Arandis


Mother and Son in Arandis

A young man in Arandis, who was unable to register at the Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT) because he had no identity documents, has been identified by a woman from Kavango East as her long-lost son.

Elizabeth Mandaha (54) says she is almost certain the young man is her biological son, Steven Shavuka Thandakhona, who disappeared in 2010 when he was just five years old. Steven, who also goes by the name Kandjimi Joseph Ndjii in Arandis, vanished while herding cattle with his twin sister and older brother in Mile 20 village in Kavango East.

The family had searched for weeks and only found the twin girl. The boy remained missing, until now.

Mandaha learned about him when a woman from Kavango East, who was enrolling her own child at NIMT, noticed the young man and heard that he had no parents or documents. His story was shared in a local WhatsApp group for Kavango people living in Arandis. A photo of the boy caught Mandaha’s attention.

“I looked at the photo and immediately felt he was mine,” Mandaha told Namibian Sun.

“My daughter called the person who posted the picture and said, ‘That boy looks like my brother who went missing in 2010.’”

The person on the other end confirmed the boy had been living in Arandis since 2010 and was believed to be from Kavango. Another photo was sent, this time with the woman who raised him. That sealed the feeling for Mandaha. She rushed to the police station in Rundu and shared her story, hoping to reconnect with her son.

Back in 2010, Steven and his siblings had left to tend cattle. When they got separated, their older brother tried to find them but only came back with the twin girl. A search party, including the children’s father, was launched. Despite efforts by the police and the community, Steven was never found.

The mystery deepened when the family heard how the boy ended up in Arandis. According to Klaus Kambinda, a family member, a man had rented accommodation in Arandis and left the child with his landlord’s family, saying he had to attend a funeral in Rundu. But the man never came back.

The woman who raised the child, Christilien Kotze, said the boy was very young and cried whenever asked about his parents.

“We thought God brought him to us,” she told Namibian Sun.

Despite not having any paperwork, her family raised the boy like their own for 15 years.

Now, the biological family believes they have finally found their son. Steven reportedly remembered a few details about his early home, a big tree, a yard fenced with logs, and a bar nearby, matching descriptions from Mile 20 village.

But challenges remain. A DNA test costing N$4,000 is needed to confirm his identity. Thankfully, a businessman from Rundu has stepped forward to pay for the test.

DNA Test is done today in Swakopmund

The DNA test is conducted today and the mother is waiting for the result.

Still, the boy will need a birth certificate and will face the emotional challenge of reconnecting with a family and language he doesn’t know.

“This journey is not going to be easy,” Mandaha said.

“He doesn’t speak Rukwangali, and everything he knows is from here in Arandis. But I’m just happy. I have joy I haven’t felt in years.”

0Comments

Share This Post

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *



Sport News

CELEB STORIES
Sean Kingston Sentenced to 3.5 Years for $1M Fraud Scheme
TUWAug 16, 2025
Sean Kingston Sentenced to 3.5 Years for $1M Fraud Scheme

Sean Kingston will not only spend the next three-and-a-half years in a U.S. federal prison but must also repay victims…

Johanna Swartbooi Receives Luxury Prize Package Following Miss Namibia 2025 Victory
TUWAug 13, 2025
Johanna Swartbooi Receives Luxury Prize Package Following Miss Namibia 2025 Victory

Johanna Swartbooi, the newly crowned Miss Namibia 2025, has officially received her grand prize package, including a Toyota Starlet Cross…

Miss Eenhana 2025 Honoured as Kambwa Trading cc Delivers Her Prize
TUWAug 7, 2025
Miss Eenhana 2025 Honoured as Kambwa Trading cc Delivers Her Prize

In a show of commitment to community development and youth empowerment, Kambwa Trading cc honoured its sponsorship pledge by presenting…

Veteran Nollywood Actor Tom Njemanze Dies at 75
TUWJul 20, 2025
Tom Njemanze died at 75

Veteran Nollywood actor Tom Njemanze has passed away at the age of 75 after a prolonged battle with prostate cancer.…


HEALTH TOPICS
Prime Minister Endures Long Queues and Medicine Shortages at Robert Mugabe Clinic
TUWAug 1, 2025
Ngurare

Prime Minister Ngurare recently took to social media to share his personal experience during a visit to the Robert Mugabe Clinic, shedding light on one…

Kayofa’s Cancer Journey Inspires Hope as Ongwediva Oncology Centre Breaks Ground
Aneli FuraJul 19, 2025
Kayofa’s Cancer Journey Inspires Hope as Ongwediva Oncology Centre Breaks Ground

For Ndayelekwa Kayofa, a breast cancer diagnosis last October was not a moment of surrender—but the beginning of a battle for life, family, and purpose.…

WHO Endorses Biannual HIV Prevention Injection to Strengthen Global Response
Aneli FuraJul 15, 2025
WHO Endorses Biannual HIV Prevention Injection to Strengthen Global Response

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially recommended the use of lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable medication, as a new tool in the fight against HIV.…

Rundu State Hospital Faces Negligence Allegations, Including Measuring Patients’ Temperature by Hand
TUWJul 10, 2025
Rundu Hospital

A patient has accused Rundu State Hospital of poor service after claiming to leave the facility feeling worse than when admitted for surgery on Monday,…

Africa