In a powerful address to the people of Okahandja, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announced the implementation of an immediate curfew in the town, following the shocking and tragic deaths of three young girls. The curfew will be enforced alongside increased police and military protection in an effort to restore safety and stability in the community.
Hundreds of residents gathered at Nau-Aib Sports Stadium to hear the President’s address, as she expressed the nation’s collective sorrow over the deaths of Rosalind Ndinelao (6), Ingrid Maasdorp (5), and Beyoncé !Kharuxas (15) — all of whom were residents of Okahandja. Their tragic deaths have sparked widespread public outrage, prompting urgent calls for action to curb gender-based violence and crimes against children.
In her speech, President Nandi-Ndaitwah assured the residents that the nation stands with them during this difficult time, acknowledging the collective grief felt across Namibia.
“As a nation, we are all mourning, but we need to restore the nation to its peaceful state, and that should be our priority,” the President said. “That is what I want to see because I want every Namibian, when you go to sleep, to sleep deeply, knowing nothing will happen to you. When you go out to do your day-to-day business, you must feel comfortable. Equally important, when you send your child to school, you want that child to come back so you can look into her book, read the stories, and sing songs. But what we have experienced in these few days is very difficult to comprehend,” she said.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah also addressed the Maasdorp family directly, expressing regret that the government had not visited them earlier after the murder of Ingrid. She offered her sincere apologies for the disruption of a petition that had been halted at the time.
The President went on to emphasize the importance of community support in tackling crime, stating that Namibia cannot achieve anything without the collective effort of its communities. She called on residents to stand united and to avoid protecting individuals who endanger public safety.
“Communities must not protect those who endanger the public,” she stressed.
While the President confirmed the curfew, operational details of its implementation will be released by the Namibian Police. It is expected that the curfew, along with other measures, will assist in the restoration of safety and security, as authorities continue to investigate the recent murders.
