WINDHOEK – Ludwig Kanduketu Stanley, 85, the man who helped founding president Sam Nujoma escape into exile from the then South West Africa in 1960, by giving him a lift, yesterday died in a Windhoek hospital.
Stanley’s nephew, Ruvara Katjiteo, who spoke on behalf of the family confirmed the deceased died at around 03:45 after battling with the after-effects of the stroke he suffered this year.
Stanley suffered a stroke on July 29 in Maun, Botswana and was airlifted the next day to Windhoek to receive medical attention by instruction of the Namibian Government.
He was discharged from hospital in late September and readmitted again in October for treatment until his passing in the early hours of yesterday morning, Katjiteo said yesterday.
Stanley whose paternal grandfather was English was born on January 8, 1928 in Windhoek.
He grew up at Onbujonumbonde in Okakarara.
At the age of 15, Stanley followed his father who left for Botswana but returned to Namibia to join the late Chief Hosea Kutako’s council as a messenger. Stanley’s role in assisting Nujoma to escape into exile put him on the apartheid police’s most wanted list. “We are saddened by his departure because there is a lot that we still wanted to learn from him. He was well vested in history. If he decided to do something he would do it until it was complete, and he taught us that. He was a very tidy person and everything he did was diligent, hardworking and he never gave up. To lose a person of that magnitude is really sad,” Katjiteo said.
Stanley is survived by his wife, Claudia, seven children and 26 grandchildren. Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course, Katjiteo said.
By Alvine Kapitako