OSHAKATI – Armed robbers paid another visit to Oshakati businessman Johan Nieuwoudt, this time robbing him of about N$110 000. Nieuwoudt was robbed in February this year at Ondangwa. In the latest incident, robbers broke into Nieuwoudt’s house at Klein Angola suburb in Oshakati.
His Toyota pick-up that was used as a getaway car was recovered about 30 minutes after the robbery, along Okahao road. Its keys were thrown in a nearby bush.
Nieuwoudt, who is the owner of Oshakati Golf Club, said he woke up yesterday morning around 5:30 to go to the golf club when he realised his house was under attack.
“I was about to leave the house when I realised that my cellphone’s battery was low. I decided to turn around and put it on the charger. I was turning to leave the house after putting my cellphone on the charger when I realised someone was holding a gun against my head,” Nieuwoudt.
Some of the robbers fetched Nieuwoudt’s wife and children at gunpoint from the bedrooms and gathered the family in the sitting room where they tied them up, before taking Nieuwoudt to his bedroom where they demanded he opens the safe. The robbers made away with at least N$87 000 that they took from the safe, N$3 500 in N$5 coins, N$900 in N$1 coins as well as a combined N$11 000 from Nieuwoudt and his wife’s wallets. In addition, the thieves also got away with about N$8 000 in coins and notes from canisters kept in the house.
Klein Angola is only a stone’s throw from the Oshana Police regional headquarters but residents claim this is the 13th case of crime that includes other armed robberies and house-breaking that took place in a period of about two months so close to the police.
Nieuwoudt claimed that he does not normally keep money at home but he had just emptied the gambling machines from his business the previous night and planned to take the money to the bank the following day.
“While the robbers were inside the house, they called someone three times asking where the money was – it seems they expected to find more than what they found,” said Nieuwoudt.
Oshana Police Regional Commander Commissioner Ndahangwapo Kashihakumwa said police are convinced that what happened at Nieuwoudt’s residence was one of many robberies in the region involving an insider.
“It is obvious that someone gave information to these people that is why they went there on a specific day. They were also calling someone from outside asking where the money was. Nieuwoudt recognised one of the men’s voices,” said Kashihakumwa.
By Helvy Shaanika