No trace of man who went missing at Orange River

WITH Christmas barely 10 days away, the family of Rehoboth resident Frederick Louw may have to spend the holiday season without their husband and father this year.

They last saw 42-year-old Louw on November 19, when he left home to go and work on a bridge between Noordoewer and Aussenkehr in the south of the country. He was reported as missing to the Police on November 24, according to the acting Police commander for the South, Andreas Nelumbu.The next day, his clothes were found on the banks of the Orange River.Police suspect that he might have drowned, although no divers have been sent into the water to search for a body.”It’s a little late for a diver,” Nelumbu told The Namibian yesterday.”We have canoes and rubber ducks on the river daily, but as for a diver, where do you place them?” Louw’s wife Glen told The Namibian on Wednesday that Police told her that if he had indeed drowned in the river, his body should have surfaced by now.The last time Louw’s co-workers saw him was during an outing at the river.According to his employer, Karl Erdmann from City Garage, Louw must have disappeared after the men parted ways to go home to their families.The Police took statements from Louw’s co-workers.However, according to Nelumbu nothing could be gained from that.He confirmed that the Police had heard reports that Louw was involved in a fight with some of his colleagues during the outing at the river, and that the Police followed up on this information.This also didn’t bring them any closer to finding him, Nelumbu said.According to Mrs Louw, the workers informed her that they had all parted ways peacefully and that they worked out their differences after the argument.Louw has two children, aged 12 and 16.Anyone with information on his whereabouts can contact his wife, Glen Louw, at (062) 52 3927.* Police are also still looking for a 35-year-old woman from Rehoboth who went missing in December 2001.Renate Goagoses, or Loaroloas, is a well-built woman, brown in complexion, with brown eyes.Her mother’s efforts to locate her have proved futile, Police say.Any information on where she could be can be forwarded to Berta Goagoses at (062) 17 6160 or to Constable Eiseb at (062) 52 3223.* A 25-year-old woman, Tuwilika Filameni went missing from her home at Tsumeb last Tuesday, leaving her three-year- old child behind.She is Oshiwambo speaking.Anyone with information on her whereabouts is requested to contact Detective Sergeant Kayipiti at (067) 223 5053.He was reported as missing to the Police on November 24, according to the acting Police commander for the South, Andreas Nelumbu.The next day, his clothes were found on the banks of the Orange River.Police suspect that he might have drowned, although no divers have been sent into the water to search for a body.”It’s a little late for a diver,” Nelumbu told The Namibian yesterday.”We have canoes and rubber ducks on the river daily, but as for a diver, where do you place them?” Louw’s wife Glen told The Namibian on Wednesday that Police told her that if he had indeed drowned in the river, his body should have surfaced by now.The last time Louw’s co-workers saw him was during an outing at the river.According to his employer, Karl Erdmann from City Garage, Louw must have disappeared after the men parted ways to go home to their families.The Police took statements from Louw’s co-workers.However, according to Nelumbu nothing could be gained from that.He confirmed that the Police had heard reports that Louw was involved in a fight with some of his colleagues during the outing at the river, and that the Police followed up on this information.This also didn’t bring them any closer to finding him, Nelumbu said.According to Mrs Louw, the workers informed her that they had all parted ways peacefully and that they worked out their differences after the argument.Louw has two children, aged 12 and 16.Anyone with information on his whereabouts can contact his wife, Glen Louw, at (062) 52 3927.* Police are also still looking for a 35-year-old woman from Rehoboth who went missing in December 2001.Renate Goagoses, or Loaroloas, is a well-built woman, brown in complexion, with brown eyes.Her mother’s efforts to locate her have proved futile, Police say.Any information on where she could be can be forwarded to Berta Goagoses at (062) 17 6160 or to Constable Eiseb at (062) 52 3223. * A 25-year-old woman, Tuwilika Filameni went missing from her home at Tsumeb last Tuesday, leaving her three-year- old child behind.She is Oshiwambo speaking.Anyone with information on her whereabouts is requested to contact Detective Sergeant Kayipiti at (067) 223 5053.