Inspector general of the Namibian Police Joseph Shikongo said he is not in a position to comment on whether the state would open a case against now former police reservist Valentino Endjala, after he was caught on video assaulting his pregnant girlfriend.
Shikongo confirmed this yesterday, while saying the girlfriend has still not laid charges against Endjala.
He said laying a criminal charge was in the hands of the investigating commissioners in the region where the incident took place.
Khomas police spokesperson Silas Shipandeni said yesterday he will revert once he speaks to the regional commander commissioner Willem Steenkamp.
This follows a video of Endjala manhandling his alleged pregnant girlfriend in Windhoek, which went viral on social media this week.
Endjala was served a dismissal letter by the police at the time The Namibian tried to reach him on Wednesday.
When contacted yesterday he refused to comment.
Endjala was declared unfit to be a police reservist because of his conduct within the public domain, as he created a situation of public discourse and distrust, the police said.
He joined the reserve force on 1 October 2021.
Endjala was discharged on Wednesday afternoon by Shikongo, as per Chapter 11 of the Police Act, which deals with the conduct of police officers.
“Had the same act been committed by a different member that is a permanent employee of the police, the procedures would have been different.
“Issues such as a suspension hearing, department hearing and trial would have come into the picture,” Shikongo said.
He said Endjala is employed elsewhere, while he served as a reservist.
National police spokesperson deputy commissioner Kauna Shikwambi on Wednesday said the Police Conduct Investigation (PCI) subdivision has found that Endjala wanted to speak to his alleged girlfriend after discovering another man proposed to her.
“ . . . but a third party was around and interfering, which led to the pushing and pulling incident as seen in the circulating video,” she said.
Shikwambi said the police take any form of violence seriously.
The Landless People’s Movement’s youth and student wing has condemned Endjala’s actions.
Youth and student wing leader for the Khomas region Junia Kaindjee said a more relentless response was needed to address gender-based violence within the police.
He proposed the urgent implementation of comprehensive training programmes for police officers, focusing on gender sensitivity, non-violence, and the handling of domestic violence.
Former police chief Sebastian Ndeitunga reminded police officers to act within the framework of the law.
“We are not guided by the law of the jungle. We have to control our tempers and know how to control our frustration, emotions and manage our stress,” he said.
A reservist police officer is an individual appointed to assist regular police officers in executing their duties.
They hold the same legal authority as permanent police officers.
However, they are not considered permanent members of the police, but rather auxiliary members.
Reservist police officers, according to the police, have the same legal powers as regular, permanent police officers.
They are essentially volunteers who have been appointed to assist the police.
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