Zorena Jantze
DOUGLAS Robert Brook, a 65-year-old British tourist who was arrested on Sunday after he was accused of molesting as well as instructing San children at the Grashoek Living Museum in Tsumkwe to take off their clothes for nude photography, appeared in the Grootfontein Magistrate court, and was remanded in custody.
Brook faces 38 charges, which include, rape, indecent assault, combating of in trafficking of humans, crimen injuria, child labour and exploitation of children and contravening several sections the Child care and protection act 3 of 2015, read together with the African charter and UN convention and protocol. The suspect appeared before Magistrate Abraham Abraham, whilst the state was represented by Prosecutor Erastus Christian.
It is alleged that Brook mostly took nude photographs of 34 minors whilst they were naked and is also accused of touching the children’s private parts.
According to a police report from Odjozondjupa region senior Inspector Maureen Mbeha, the suspect allegedly touched the breasts and buttocks of 16 teenage girls, 14 teenage boys and three minors. Some of the nude photographs of the children is alleged to have been found in the man’s camera which was confiscated at the Maroelaboom police station. Brook is reported to have entered Namibia on 15 May 2025, on vacation.
The case was postponed to 19 to 20th June 2025 for further investigations.
The Namibian Ministry of Environment and Tourism has since condemned the actions, stating that the act is not only deeply disrespectful to the cultural heritage of the San community, but it also constitutes a serious violation of Namibia’s laws regarding the protection of minors and goes against the requisite ethical conduct while engaging with indigenous communities.
“The Ministry stands by the protection and safeguarding of the children as articulated in Article 8 of the Namibian Constitution, dealing with “Respect for human dignity”. It is unacceptable for any visitor, foreign or local, to exploit or objectify indigenous communities or their children for any purpose, including photography. Respect for human dignity and cultural sensitivity must be central to all tourism activities in our country. We also urge tour operators, guides, and visitors to familiarise themselves with and adhere to responsible tourism guidelines, including ethical conduct when engaging with local communities,” Ndeshipanda Hamunyela public relations officer within the environment and tourism ministry said.
She added that Tourism in Namibia must serve to promote cultural understanding, mutual respect, and socio-economic development, not to exploit or objectify our indigenous communities.
“The Ministry would like to urge all Namibians to report such inhumane acts to relevant authorities, as such acts cannot be tolerated. Moreover, the Ministry would like to urge all Namibians and responsible visitors to Namibia to report such inhumane acts to relevant authorities, as such acts cannot be tolerated. We applaud the Namibian Police for the swift action in attending to the matter, and we are confident that the law will take its course,” Hamunyela concluded.
Picture for illustrative purposes only. Photo: Contributed
