Rudolf Gaiseb
A pastor burnt to death in his church’s orphanage when the corrugated iron building in which he and a child with a disability were sleeping, was reduced to ashes.
Elia Geingob (42) and the 14-year-old Oubed Skrywer died in the horrific fire at the Prayer House Church Orphanage in Havana, Windhoek on Sunday.
Namibian Police spokesperson Kauna Shikwambi yesterday morning said, “the cause of fire is not known, and the fire started inside the shack.”
She said the next of kin were informed as they were at the scene and investigations are underway.
According to the testimony of a church member familiar with the incident, Geingob, the head pastor (apostle) was allegedly out drinking the previous night, and arrived at the orphanage where he lives, and fell asleep in one of the rooms.
“In the morning, we came to the church; we were having a service. At 11h00, we were about to start with the prayer when one of the girls went out, and came back screaming, ‘The orphanage is on fire’. We came out to save him, but the fire was too much,” said the source.
A 15-year-old girl went out of the church when she smelled smoke, and suspected the building was on fire.
Johannes Gowaseb, a junior pastor who was leading the service while Geingob was still asleep, and the congregants rushed out to extinguish the fire. The room was allegedly locked from the outside by one of the boys close to Geingob, according to the source, who further alleges that it was a regular occurrence to prevent the congregation from seeing Geingob in his drunken state sleeping.
Gowaseb said they managed to open the door, but the fire had already
spread, and was blocking the entrance.
They tried to pour water, but the fire persisted, and killed both Geingob and the boy with macrocephaly.
According to their recollection, Gowaseb and some of the congregants stated that they did not hear any screams coming from the room.
Geingob had been serving for 16 years, and started an orphanage with nine school-going children currently reciting there.
The fire destroyed the children’s clothes and blankets, including their school uniforms and books.