OMUTHIYA – The directorate of education this year refused to enroll rape accused Lucas Tsamseb, popularly known as Irivari, in school, saying he is now over-aged and it is not appropriate for him to sit in class among minors.

Irivari, according to education officials, is over the age of 18 – and he was, therefore, advised to enroll for adult education. He rose to fame as videos of him, drunk and entertaining people around Oshivelo, emerged on social media.  

Oshikoto education director Aletta Eises said the decision of not enrolling Irivari has nothing to do with the criminal case he is facing but rather his age, which is beyond the required bracket.

“He is over the age of 18, so it is not practical to have him in Grade 1, where there is a lot of minors as young as six. No one denied him an education; that is why he was encouraged to register for literacy or adult education – that way, he can still continue learning,” stressed Eises, saying it was also part of the directive from the education executive director Sanet Steenkamp. 

“We have serious cases in which learners have been involved in criminal activities, whom we have reintegrated or transferred to other schools for as long they still qualify. So, that is the whole basis,” she reiterated.

Irivari was enrolled in Grade 1 last year at Ondera Primary School but he dropped out midway through the year. 

The remarks come after requests from some quarters of the community, who felt Irivari still needed to be accorded a chance to return to school. 

He was enrolled last year through the intervention of the ministry of gender equality and child welfare as a form of rehabilitation. 

Irivari and three others allegedly gang raped an 18-year-old girl on 1 January 2021 at Oshivelo. They were arrested and granted bail of N$2 000 in February, and they are due to appear in the Tsumeb Magistrate’s Court next week.

- osimasiku@nepc.com.na