By Emma Kakololo
WINDHOEK
The Namibian Police yesterday announced that they were very close to identifying the murder victim whose torso was discovered on May 17 along the Windhoek/Okahandja main road.
Police were also certain that the two thighs discovered in a rubbish bin next to the B1 road between Windhoek and Rehoboth three days thereafter belonged to the same person.
“As far as the situation is concerned, we are about 99 percent sure that the body parts belong to the torso. However, scientific investigations are still ongoing,” stated police head, Lieutenant General Sebastian Haitota Ndeitunga when briefing the media on police progress regarding the murder.
Ndeitunga also confirmed media reports that they have sought help from South African police to assist in the investigation, emphasizing that it was the norm for Southern African Development Community (SADC) Member States to assist each other where expertise is needed.
Ndeitunga also said whoever the murderer/s is, he must be a man as only men in general are considered to possess a hard heart and it is perceived that only men can go to the extent of carrying out such brutal actions, because they never endure the hardship of carrying a baby in their bodies for nine months as is the case with women.
However, he added that this perception stood to be challenged as women were equally guilty of killing their own children – therefore there was need for society to undergo therapy. “Heinous crimes being committed nowadays should serve as a wakening call for all of us to start a soul-searching exercise so that we can examine ourselves to determine what went wrong in our moral fabric.”
On the side of the police, he assured that the force was capable of resolving the recent happening through with meagre resources at its disposal.
“What will hinder us from arresting this killer if we have successfully managed to curtail the spate of bank robberies as well as motor vehicle theft syndicates which was prevalent in the past months?
“Therefore, there is no need for apprehension from the people as to the ability of the Namibian Police and its resolve to make sure that come tomorrow or the day after it will definitely triumph and restore the confidence which at this moment seems to be shaken because of the senseless killings being perpetrated against innocent people by a person/s whose state of mind and attention need thorough analysis.”
The site where the legs were found is situated about 14,5 km south of the place where the head of a murdered Juanita Mabula (21 years old) was found lying on October 24, 2005, while her headless, naked body was found lying next to the Western Bypass road section of the B1 on September 25, 2005.
The Mabula incident was not the first. Before hers was the case of 22-year-old Melanie Janse, whose body was found lying also next to the Western Bypass on August 20, 2005 and so far no arrest has been made for either of the murders.
According to Ndeitunga, police were still investigating these cases and ever since the Mabula case, his offices have been and are still being flooded with endless phone calls from the public wanting to give tips about possible suspect/s. While appreciating efforts from the public, he noted that some of these informers were true opportunists, giving inaccurate information as long as they hit the “jackpot” – the N$60 000 reward the police are offering for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrator/s.
The Inspector General also expressed his gratitude to the contributions made by the media, but warned the media to be sensitive in its reporting and not jeopardize police investigation by revealing information that might pre-warn the perpetrators.
“The case in point is the rumour which was spread by some of the media that a suspect in a person of Dr Pienaar was arrested in connection with the murder. That rumour spread like wild fire with the assistance of some private radio stations. The doctor in question was arrested on a drunken driving charge and he is not a suspect in the murder of the unknown victim as alleged.
“I should admit that prompt completion of this case is everybody’s wish, however, thorough and careful handling of information is prerequisite if we are to arrest the culprit. Hence, allow the experts to discern what is at hand and avoid undue interference with unwanted comment or publications,” he urged.
He stated further: “Because this monster is living among us, being in the farm settlement, a church member, a restaurant frequenter, a doctor, a street vendor, you mention it. Therefore, until a person/s who possess that vital information comes out of the shell and discloses it to the police, the monster will continue to attack at his own accord and stir fear and panic.” He appealed to the media to rather form a common front under which to sensitize the public to come out and provide information on the whereabouts of the “monster”.