4 NAMIB TIMES
17 DECEMBER 2013
Tamariskia joins hands with Swakopmund Neighbourhood Watch Anri Jacobs
As of three weeks ago, Tamariskia has officially joined hands with the Swakopmund Neighbourhood Watch to offer the residents of Tamariskia the same safety as in the rest of Swakopmund. Over the past few weeks, the crime rate in Tamariskia drastically increased leading to up to 7 break-ins in a week. The residents of Tamariskia were in uproar and together decided that something needs to be done. A few of the residents came together and decided to join in with the Swakopmund Neighbourhood Watch so as to protect their community to the best of their capabilities. Joining the already existent Swakopmund Neighbourhood Watch was the best option as it is already a settled organisation with everything in place. Due to this they could jump in immediately to work hand in hand with the Swakopmund Neighbourhood Watch, the police force, the reserve force, the ambulance services and all the rest. Tamariskia Neighbourhood Watch work as one with the Swakopund Neighbourhood Watch, the only difference being the area that they patrol. They assist each other as a group and work as one. The Tamariskia Neighbourhood Watch has kicked off with a bang and thus far have 54 members. Only three weeks into operations and they can already see a massive change in the crime rate. It dropped from almost 7 break-ins in one week to about 2 break-ins over 3 weeks. The Neighbourhood Watch wants to remind everyone, especially the members of the Tamariskia community that they can now call the emergency number 085999 and a Neighbourhood Watch member will respond. They also encourage all who is interested in joining the Neighbourhood Watch to go see or contact Pastor Nel at the VGK church in Tamariskia for more information and an application form. For those who are perhaps not in the position to
Sniffer dogs for border posts The Directorate of Customs and Excise in the Ministry of Finance is buying 25 sniffer dogs early next year for use at entry and exit points across the country. The dogs are German shepherds, Buddys, Bellas, Candys and Jaspers, and will be deployed at the Noordoewer, Ariamsvlei, Oshikango, Walvis Bay harbour and the Wenela border posts. The dogs will be brought in from South Africa next month for training with their handlers, before being deployed to the borders. They will be used in the detection of drugs and counterfeit money, amongst others. The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Bevan Simataa, made the announcement during a five-day mid-term review meeting at Keetmanshoop on Thursday and said the canines would cost the state about N$500 000. The review was attended by more than 20 officials from all 14 regions. Speaking at the same event, //Karas Governor Bernardus Swartbooi suggested that Government institutions' performance reviews needed to be opened to the public and private sectors for scrutiny. He was of the opinion that if such reviews were open to the public for input and criticism, officials would
Gordon Resandt (area representative for Tamariskia) shanking hands with Mike Nederlof of Swakopmund Neighbourhood Watch, and Clifford Beukes also an area representative for Tamariskia
join the Neighbourhood Watch but would like to help somehow, donations are welcome. Mike Nederlof added, “Donations are not always in the form of money. It could be in the form of equipment or anything else. All help is welcome and much appreciated!” Mr Nederlof along with the members from the Tamariskia Neighbourhood Watch wants to emphasise that the Neighbourhood Watch members are not traffic offers, they are here for the people of the coast and want to protect our people and keep our town safe and make it pleasant place to live in. Therefore a zero tolerance policy is in place, not only for December but also in general. All that the Neighbourhood Watch asks is the cooperation of the public. In the end it's about the safety of our residents.
Polisie waarsku teen voertuig-inbrekers Marshallino Beukes
Die polisie doen 'n dringende beroep op voertuigeienaars om veral gedurende die feesseisoen uiters waaksaam en op hul hoede te wees. Die stasiebevelvoerder in Mondesa, Swakopmund, Inspekteur Eric Nghaamwa noem dat 'n slinkse manier, wat behels dat diewe toestelle gebruik om te verhoed dat voertuigeienaars hul alarmstelsels aktiveer, kop uitgesteek het. Hy noem dat hulle tegelykertyd, wanneer 'n persoon die afstandbeheer alarmknoppie druk, ook op hul toestelle druk, wat verhoed dat die voertuig se alarm aktiveer word. “Mense moet liewer dubbel seker maak, deur hul deure met die sleutel te sluit”, sê Nghaamwa. Hy waarsku voorts dat persone doodseker moet maak of hulle die geluid van die alarmstelsel hoor, wanneer hulle dit aktiveer. Voertuigwagte het volgens inspekteur Nghaamwa spesiale nommers, wat duidelik op hul uniform vertoon moet word en hy sê dat sommige van hierdie wagte baie keer self die oortreders is. Voertuigeienaars word dus genoop om seker te maak of die wag wel 'n registrasienommer het en dit memoriseer of neerskryf. Indien 'n inbraak dan sou plaasvind vergemaklik dit die polisie se werk om sodanige persoon te identifiseer en te arresteer. Ook waardevolle artikels wat oop en bloot in voertuie gelaat word, skep 'n definitiewe geleentheid vir 'n voornemende dief en ook teen dit word persone gewaarsku.
Walvis Bay Court Report 11 December 2013 Neville Van Wyk (30) appeared on charges of culpable homicide and driving under the influence of intoxicating alcohol. Matter is postponed to 9 April 2014. Two minors' appeared on charges of housebreaking with intent to steal and theft. Matter was postponed to 12 December 2013. Accused detained in place of safety. Andit Van Wyk (31) was sentenced to a fine of N$1000 or 90 days imprisonment on a charge of assault (common). Robert Jackson (18) appeared on a charge of robbery. Matter is postponed 10 March 2014. Accused in custody. Jeremy Collin Stevens (46) was sentenced to 90 days imprisonment or a N$2000 fine on a charge of displaying a licence number not applicable to the vehicle. Maritz Thys (19) appeared on a charge of use of a vehicle without the owner's consent. Matter is postponed to 18 December 2013. Accused is in custody. Petrus Cornelius (35) appeared on a charge of trespassing. Matter is postponed to 6 January 2014. Accused in custody. 12 December 2013 Johaness Kavili (19) appeared on charges of attempted rape and assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm. Matter is postponed to 3 March 2014. Accused on bail. A case of driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor and driving with an excessive blood alcohol level has been withdrawn against Christof Marais (24) due to no evidence. Tileni Sacky Amwaama (37) appeared on charges of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and malicious damage to property. Matter is postponed to 14 March 2014. Accused on bail. Indongo Abisai (30), Shamgula Andreas (33) and Kanimie Barnabas (27) all appeared on a charge of theft. Matter is postponed to 23 December 2013. Accused in custody. Andreas Andreas (34), Daniel Ashilulu (29) and Iyambo Eliakim (24) all appeared on a charge of malicious damage to property. Matter is postponed to 6 January 2014. Accused on bail and Iyambo Eliakim is still at large. Seibes Tanya Cecilie (27), Charlotte Schwartz (48) appeared on a charge of theft and Haraseb Morton (27) and Leon Ikera (20) appeared on charge of malicious damage to property. Matter is postponed to 14 April 2014. Seibes and Schwartz on bail and the case has been withdrawn against Morton and Ikela as the state will use them as witnesses. Two minors appeared on a charge of housebreaking with an intent to steal and theft. Matter is postponed to 12 February 2014. Accused released in care of their guardians. . Jesaya Moongela (29) appeared on a charge of fraud. Matter is postponed to 15 January 2014. Accused on bail. Shawn Pretorius (24) appeared on a charge of assault. Matter is postponed to 27 February 2014. Accused on bail. Linus Jacobs (27) was sentenced to a fine of N$800 or 40 days imprisonment on a charge of assault. 13 December 2014 Blum Karl Heinz (32) appeared on a charge of driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor. Matter is postponed to 25 February 2014. Accused in custody. Mulanga Albert (38) appeared on a charge of housebreaking with an intent to steal and theft. Matter is postponed to 23 December 2013. Accused in custody. Amunyela Shetunyenga (36), Negandjo Moses (35), Shivute Abraham (28) and Asser Jafet (26) all appeared on a charge of housebreaking implements- possession of stolen goods. Matter is postponed to 16 January 2014. Accused in custody.
New Ombudsman office opened at Ongwediva The Office of the Ombudsman has opened a new office at Ongwediva in the Oshana Region. The Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Issaskar Ndjoze, opened the new office on behalf of Deputy Minister Tommy Nambahu. The N$4,6 million office is the first of its kind to be built in the northern regions and will serve seven regions. It will act on complaints on the violation of human rights, unfair labour practices and other social evils. The office will make communities aware of its existence and its responsibilities. The Office of the Ombudsman is a
combination of a classical Ombudsman's office with additional mandates to investigate complaints relating to maladministration, and violation of human rights and freedoms. It also deals with cases of overutilization of natural resources and the misappropriation of public monies and other properties by officials. The Ombudsman's Office has been operating from the Oshakati Magistrate's Court for many years.