Angolan Child Assaulted After Entering Private Property for Water
By Aneli Fura
An Angolan minor was reportedly assaulted after entering private property to drink water from an outdoor tap, raising fresh concerns about the growing presence of vulnerable children selling wooden products on Namibian streets.
The child is part of a large group of Angolan minors who have been moving across the country, from the northern regions down to the coast and the south, selling handcrafted wooden items to survive. Many of them are believed to be unaccompanied or living in unsafe conditions.
According to sources close to the incident, the business owner allegedly attacked the boy after finding him on the premises. The full details surrounding the confrontation are still unclear, but witnesses claim the child was seeking water when the situation turned violent.
Human rights activists and legal practitioners have condemned the incident, calling it a symptom of a wider humanitarian issue. They urge authorities to step in and address the increasing number of Angolan children living on the streets, often exposed to exploitation, hunger and dangerous environments.
Advocacy groups are demanding stronger child protection measures, immediate intervention by social services, and cross-border efforts to ensure the safety and welfare of the affected minors.
Police are yet to comment on whether charges will be laid in connection with the alleged assault.
