Windhoek
Friends of Paulus Tangeni and some residents of Okahandja Park informal settlement are collecting funds to help bury the destitute man, who passed away a week ago.
Tangeni, 48, died last Wednesday shortly after arriving at the hospital, following a period of ill health. He has no relatives in Windhoek and sold polony and maize in surrounding areas to make a living.
According to community activist Cornelia Fotolela, the deceased is an Angolan national by birth, who migrated to northern Namibian in his early teens and later moved to Windhoek. He had since acquired Namibian citizenship by naturalisation.
After his sudden death Fotolela and Tangeni’s neighbours started looking for donations to buy a coffin, to pay for transport and cover funeral expenses. So far they have collected N$600 and also received a donation of N$500 from Namibia Red Cross Society.
Fotolela said because of Tangeni poor health, the deceased was her client through Red Cross, an organization she volunteers for. “I gave him medication, food and washed his clothes,” Fotolela said.
Tangeni did not have a place of his own, but looked after someone’s shack, who had moved to a different area. Tangeni’s friends gathered this week under a tree to remember his life.
Fotolela further said they learned that both his parents in Angola are deceased. His only living relatives are a paternal grandfather and few kin.
“We recently learned about a relative of his that lives in Opuwo in Kunene Region, who will be travelling to Windhoek for the burial. We can’t bury him without his family being present,” Fotolela said, adding that they are also paying for the relative’s transport costs, as she is unemployed.
Tobias Hainyeko Councillor Christopher Likuua availed money for Tangeni’s relative to travel to Windhoek for his burial.