Deceased family was escaping lockdown

ILENI NANDJATOONATHINGEOshikoto resident Gerhard Matha Simson, who is among six people dead after a horrific car accident that occurred between Okahandja and Otjiwarongo on 26 March, was escaping the lockdown declared in the Khomas and Erongo regions.His family revealed this during a mass burial held at Onathinge on Saturday.Amid the coronavirus outbreak, which as of yesterday has infected 1.2 million and killed 65 000 people globally, Namibia declared a lockdown for the regions over a week ago. The lockdown is part of the state of emergency declared in the country to help contain the spread of the virus, which as of Saturday had killed 8 500 in USA, the biggest economy in the world.Namibia yesterday reported two more cases of infections, reaching a tally of 16. Mass exodusAfter the lockdown was declared, many people in Khomas and Erongo started leaving the two regions, in part due to the fact that many companies had closed.At Simson's burial on Saturday – along with his daughter and two grandchildren who died with him – it was revealed that he too was among those leaving the two regions to avoid being 'locked in'.“When government announced that it was locking down [Khomas] and the Erongo, it was initially not clear as to when this would come into force,” a family member narrated.“At first, it was said that the lockdown will happen on Saturday, 28 [March], and he [Simon] was planning to drive to the north on Friday, 27 March. On Thursday afternoon, he received a call that informed him that the lockdown was starting on Thursday midnight, and if he overnighted in Windhoek, he would not get out on Friday,” said a family member.“Since he did not want to be locked down in Windhoek, he decided to drive that afternoon. Family members tried to convince him otherwise, but he would not listen to them.”Hours later, the 68-year-old, his lastborn Albertina Simson (28) and grandchildren Helena Shivute (8) and Erassy Iihinda (5), died in an accident between Okahandja and Otjiwarongo.DetailsAccording to a police report, the accident happened at around 23:00, 35km north of Okahandja. It is reported that Simson's Toyota bakkie, with five occupants, tried overtaking a truck and collided head-on with an oncoming combi.Four people in the bakkie died on the spot, while Albertina died upon arrival at Okahandja hospital. Fiina Ndeleni Nangombe (22), a passenger in Simson's vehicle, also died, as did the driver of the combi, Junias Nande (32).Social distancing a challengeDespite the ban of large gatherings, hundreds of people from different parts of the country gathered at Onathinge to pay their last respects to Simson and his relatives.To aid authorities with tracing potential cases of infection from the gathering, mourners had to enter their names in an attendance register which will be handed over to the health ministry.Simson is a retired Shell Namibia employee. He is survived by his wife Albertina and seven children. His daughter Albertina recently graduated in education.They were buried in one grave at Onathinge cemetery.

Deceased family was escaping lockdown

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-03

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Deceased family was escaping lockdown

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-03

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