BERSEBA - Members of the Berseba community and the //Kharas region at large are mourning the death of /Hai-/Khaua deputy captain (chief), Stephanus Goliath, who died in a Windhoek hospital last week after a long illness. 

Stephanus was 78. 

During an interview with New Era, Amalia Kuhlmann, a close family relative described him as a freedom fighter who resisted the white minority apartheid system since his early years as a student in South Africa. “Whilst pursuing his Bachelor’s Degree in education, our chief was actively involved in the student uprising demanding to be lectured in English instead of Afrikaans,” she explained. 

Kuhlmann continued that the former member of the Nama Traditional Authority Council has been instrumental in the establishment of the Ecumenical Private Community School in Berseba during 1988. “From this great initiative, many other private schools were opened during apartheid and many of the students became prominent leaders and professionals in the community,” she said. 

She also attested to be one of the less fortunate children the Nama leader raised as one of his own. “Our gaob (chief) was a soft-spoken, kind hearted person who always strived to resolve conflicts in the community and was at all times willing to assist those in need in kind,” said Kuhlmann. 

Meanwhile, Swapo’s
//Kharas coordinator Matheus Mumbala described the late chief as instrumental in Namibia’s independence. 

“He was in all aspects a liberation icon, fighting for the freedom from the South African apartheid regime since being a student at a university in that country, fully participating without fear in the student uprising in the late 70s in South Africa,” he added. Mumbala also said Swapo has lost a true fighter and political icon.

Gaob Goliath served for two terms as the first governor for
//Kharas region after independence. Family members indicated that no funeral arrangements will be announced at this stage, as many other traditional issues should be attended to first.

- sklukowsi@nepc.com.na