Staff Reporter
FIVE men are due to appear in the Outjo Magistrate’s Court today after allegedly beating up five male victims who entered a farm camp in Outjo to collect firewood.
According to Chief Inspector Pendukeni Haikali, the incident of assault with grievous bodily harm occurred on Sunday, March 17, 2024, at about 12:00 on Farm National in the Outjo district.
“It is alleged that five male victims drove with their donkey cart from Soweto location in the direction of Farm National on the Outjo/Otavi road to collect firewood. They parked their cart next to the road and went into the farm camp to gather firewood. It is further alleged that while in the farm camp, they were confronted by farm workers (suspects) who took them to the farm and assaulted them with samboks or whips all over their bodies. Five male suspects have been arrested in this regard and are expected to appear in court today. Police investigations continue,” Haikali said.
In a widely circulated audio clip, the aunt of one of the victims described the incident as well and explained that the men were taken to the suspects farm, stripped of their clothes, splashed with water, locked up in a cooler room and beaten up one by one.
The aunt of the victims explained that police officers did not wish to arrest some of the white suspects involved in the case and that this is the third such case involving assault related to the suspects.
She added that community members in Outjo are planning a protest against the alleged violent incidents linked to the suspects and the perceived inaction by the police.
