Eba Kandovazu 

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on Saturday paid tribute to late Swapo Hardap regional coordinator Joplin !Gontes.

She described her as a dedicated leader, whose life was defined by service, humility and compassion.

Speaking during the funeral service in Windhoek, Nandi-Ndaitwah said the death of !Gontes on 4 May 2026, the same day Namibia commemorated the 48th anniversary of the Cassinga Massacre, added another layer of pain to a day of national remembrance.

“The passing of comrade !Gontes on such a solemn and historic day on our national calendar reminds us not only of the fragility of life, but also of the enduring responsibility to serve our people with humility, compassion, commitment and values, which she, herself, embodied throughout her life,” the President said.

Nandi-Ndaitwah highlighted !Gontes’ journey from education and healthcare into politics, saying she first served as a relief teacher at Emma Hoogenhout Primary School before working as a nurse and later as a senior tuberculosis response coordinator in Aranos

She said !Gontes joined Swapo in her youth and rose through the party ranks to become district coordinator for Aranos before being elected Hardap regional coordinator in 2022 and a member of the party’s central committee.

The President credited !Gontes with strengthening the party’s presence in Hardap during difficult political periods, and said her leadership contributed to Swapo’s performance in the 2025 regional and local authority elections. Nandi-Ndaitwah also described the late politician as a deeply spiritual woman who promoted unity and tolerance.

“She believed in uplifting rather than condemning, in uniting rather than dividing, and in treating people with dignity regardless of their circumstances,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.

Nandi-Ndaitwah was accompanied by First Gentleman Denga Ndaitwah and Vice President Lucia Witbooi.

!Gontes is survived by two children.

-Nampa