Windhoek
A soldier in the Namibian Defence Force appeared in the Okahandja magistrate court on Tuesday for bumping a police officer on the road between Okahandja and Otjiwarongo on Sunday. The soldier, Absalom Matheus, 29, was granted bail of N$3 500.
Matheus faced charges of reckless and negligent driving. It is alleged that Matheus drove into Constable Petrus Katali, a police officer, who at the time was attending to an accident in which three people died on Sunday afternoon. Katali was rushed to the hospital with injuries to his head, back and arm injuries. Matheus will return to court on December 1.
Matheus allegedly approached the scene at a high speed and failed to stop.
Warrant-Officer Maureen Mbeha warned drivers to be careful when approaching accident scenes. “Licenced drivers should be attentive,” said Mbeha who is from the Namibian Police’s Public Relations Officer for Otjozondjupa Region Constable Katali was attending the the road accident between the Okahandja and Otjiwarongo in which a driver of a Toyota double cab and two women died instantly when their vehicle overturned. The accident occurred five kilometres north of Okahandja, shortly before 19h00. Mbeha said the driver of the Toyota lost control of the vehicle. “He might have missed a curve,” she said.
The driver who lost his life has been identified as Bonifassius Muronga 38. The other deceased are Diga Kheibes, 24 Gerta Kheibes, 15. Lorenci Kheibes, 4 was injured and was rushed to the Okahandja State Hospital.
In July this year, a young driver, Morné Mouton, 20, allegedly killed three men standing on a pavement in Hochland Park and was granted bail of N$6 000 in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court.
Some police officers commented after the proceedings that the bail was a mere slap on the wrist.
The three people that died include a City Police official. Manfred Gaoseb and another officer were responding to a housebreaking incident in Hochland Park, but stopped at Sam Nujoma Drive after noticing suspicious activity in a riverbed. The officers searched a man at the scene and found three cellphones and a knife in his possession. They then called for assistance from another member of the police.
While this was taking place Mouton allegedly approached at high speed from an easterly direction and rammed right into the stationary police vehicle, hitting Gaoseb and two men, killing them instantly. His matter will proceed December 8.