Staff Reporter
MORE than 4,000 criminal cases were recorded in the //Kharas Region between April 2025 and March 2026.
“From April 2025 to March 2026, a total of 4,300 cases were reported, with a clearance rate of 41%. The contributing factors to crime are alcohol and drug abuse, poverty-caused drug abuse, unemployment, and greed,” the //Kharas Regional Governor, Dawid Gertze, revealed.
He disclosed this information during his recent 2026 State of the Region Address (SORA) in Keetmanshoop, where he outlined key achievements and challenges in the //Kharas Region over the past year.
“The Namibian Police Force in the //Kharas Region has performed commendably during the 2025/2026 financial year, achieving a 41% clearance rate, securing major convictions in murder, rape and drug trafficking cases,” Gertze added.
The Governor highlighted stock theft as one of the major crimes recorded during the reporting period. He revealed that a total of 65 stock theft cases were reported in the region between January 2025 and April 2026, resulting in the arrest of 122 suspects. Of these, 12 large stock animals were recovered, valued at N$51,500, and 186 small stock were recovered, valued at N$470,345.
Gertze also revealed that a total of 37 money-laundering cases were recorded in the region during the period under review, involving a total of N$1.9 million, resulting in six arrests. He also highlighted that several drug-related crimes facilitated by cross-border activity were recorded since April 2025.
“Drug-related cases were reported due to cross-border crime, which were detected through the vigilance of officers in successful operations, as well as joint operations with our counterparts, the South African Police Service, conducted at Ariamsvlei and Noordoewer border posts. Two major cases of dealing in drugs were recorded at Noordoewer and Ariamsvlei border posts respectively, with a combined value of N$6 million, involving one Namibian and one South African female who were arrested and detained,” Gertze added.
Photo: NBC Digital News
