USAKOS – Two women are eternally linked through a tragic chain of events. One is mourning her daughter’s untimely death while the other mother, burdened by her son’s heinous act, is dealing with guilt. Their story is not theirs alone, but highlights the devastating effects of gender-based violence that have torn families and communities apart.
These two women are linked to Leena Williams (29), a mother of three, who allegedly died at the hands of her former boyfriend, which shook the small town of Usakos in the Erongo region.
Emotions ran high Monday morning when residents gathered at the town’s court to, not only call for stiffer sentences, but they also want the death penalty reinstated.
Williams’ death not only highlights the battle against drug and alcohol abuse gripping the community but also results in the community questioning the Namibian Police involvement, as well as the lack of urgency with which community emergencies are treated by the town’s health officials.
Donned in black, residents from all walks of life took to the streets on Monday to demand a drastic change in the operations of those tasked with protecting and rendering emergency services to them.
According to residents, Williams’ death could have been prevented had the police allegedly taken the suspect into custody when he was found.
They further alleged that the murder suspect, Samuel #Goseb, was initially found by the police but evaded them under the pretence that he was buying a cigarette at a nearby tuckshop, resulting in the police searching for him for the second time.
Leena Williams was allegedly stabbed several times by her former boyfriend, Samuel #Goseb, early Saturday morning shortly after collecting her daughter, whom she shares with the suspect, from his mother, Fillemine !Gaoses.
#Goseb entered her shack in the Saamstaan location through a tiny window, lurking in the dark, and attacked her.
“She would have been alive had the police acted properly,” #Goseb’s mother, told New Era on Monday. The shocked woman said the couple had been in an abusive relationship, resulting in Williams seeking help from the police.
She thought the police arrested her son on Friday afternoon.
“I thought they had arrested him and was happy thinking that he would finally rethink his life, as he had a daughter that he needed to support… only to hear on Saturday morning that he had killed her. I am really confused and have so many questions. That was also my child, and I am hurting because my granddaughter will now grow up without parents,” she said.
She feels guilty for her son’s action, as she does not wish death on anyone or raise a murderer.
“I am so sorry nobody raises a child expecting they would do something so gruesome,” said !Gaoses.
According to Melisa Uiras, who read a petition on behalf of the residents on Monday, they do not feel protected in Usakos.
Uiras said cases are reported to the police but not attended to on time.
Sometimes, there is always one vehicle available, but you find the police vehicle parked at the soccer field and being used for other purposes.
“We want the officers to be reshuffled; let them go work in Tubusis because we want services and protection,” she said.
Residents also blamed the Usakos State Hospital for a lack of empathy, as they did not respond to the emergency call made to the hospital.
“Our sister could have been saved but the ambulance never arrived,” Lisken Pietersen said.
According to them, they waited for more than an hour for an ambulance to arrive at the scene while Williams was bleeding.
They were allegedly told that there was no ambulance driver.
“We waited in vain because we didn’t want to move her, as we did not know the extent of her injuries,” she said.
Pietersen said they had no choice but to load the injured Williams into a private car and rushed her to the hospital. Sadly, she died before they reached the hospital.
“There is no ambulance when we need it, but there is one to go buy bread for the driver’s children or run private errands. What happened to compassion and caring for one another? We are demanding answers and better services from the Usakos State Hospital. We want to know why no one responded to that urgent call that could have saved her life. Today, her children are without a mother because of their negligence.
“We are broken,” she said.
Williams’s family battled to hold back their tears as they fondly spoke about her.
One of her male cousins could not utter words, as he was silently weeping and wiping his tears with his shirt.
“I raised her after my sister – her mother – died. I loved her more than I even loved my own children. Because she was given to me as a tiny baby. That boy has broken my heart and my family. Never in my life had I thought that she would meet her demise in such a brutal way,” Ouma Matinxu Williams said while holding back her tears.
According to her, Williams was the breadwinner and had two other minor children.
The family says her son was inconsolable when he heard about his mother’s death.
Ouma Williams is now calling for the death penalty for murderers, adding that his actions are a direct result of alcohol and drug abuse.
“Look at his actions; he left his own child an orphan now. How heartless can one be that you couldn’t even think about your own child that you end up killing her mother in front of your child,” she asked rhetorically.
She also told New Era that the victim on several occasions reported the suspect to the police and opened a case against him when he stole her bank card and withdrew all her money.
They are now appealing to the community and Namibians to assist them with the funeral of their daughter.
Erongo police commissioner Nikolaus Kupembona described the incident as unfortunate when he received the petition and sent his condolences to the family.
“Your loss is our loss. It is very painful that you lost a productive member of society at such a young age,” he said.
He also told the protestors that their grievances would be investigated and will also be forwarded to our inspector general for necessary action. From our side, I can assure you that the investigation will be handled swiftly so that justice takes its course,” he said.