City Police investigating arrest of AR activist

PAULINA NDALIKOKULEWINDHOEK City Police senior superintendent Nathaniel Nendongo says the City Police cannot at this stage comment on the arrest of Affirmative Repositioning activist Dimbulukeni Nauyoma on Friday.

“He made a lot of allegations that are under investigation; we cannot comment now,” Nendongo said this morning (Saturday).

Nendongo could also not comment why the Windhoek City Police decided to remove a shack in the city’s Okuryangava area, which led to a clash with Nauyoma on Friday, or confirm whether Nauyoma was injured or not, adding that the police are investigating the matter.

Kadhila Amoomo, Nauyoma’s lawyer, yesterday confirmed that the Windhoek City Police arrested Nauyoma in Okuryangava at about 16h30 on Friday.

Information around the arrest is still sketchy, but according to Amoomo, Nauyoma was taken into custody for allegedly attempting to obstruct the police, who were dismantling an illegal shack at Okuryangava.

Amoomo said Nauyoma sustained internal injuries during the arrest and is now hospitalised under police guard at Rhino Park Private Hospital.

“What aggravates the situation is that he was in police custody for many hours and we pleaded with them to make efforts to take him to the hospital but they only came to take him later that night when the police was instructed to take him to the hospital after a court hearing,” Amoomo said.

He added that he would be launching a bail application as soon as Nauyoma is medically fit – possibly on Monday.

Wilhelmina Shipanga, whose shack was destroyed, said she and her two children – a three-month-old baby and a child aged a year and six months – had to sleep at a friend’s house last night.

“I have no relative in Windhoek. I am an orphan with two children. I am here because of the hospital. I just want support so that I get another place to stay,” she said.

Addressing the media last night, AR leader Job Amupanda said AR would not stand idle watching poor people’s houses being destroyed.

“Anyone that demolishes somebody’s house, we will do the same to them. I am going to be at the forefront so that they can also know how it feels to have your materials destroyed,” Amupanda said.