Nampol, NDF ordered to pay N$1.3m for killing Rundu man

The family of Rundu man Joseph Kautjingu Ndondji has been awarded a N$1.3 million settlement following a lengthy legal battle over his death during a joint police and military operation in Rundu on 3 March 2023.Ndondji, a 34-year-old butcher, was fatally shot in the abdomen by law enforcement and military personnel who alleged he was in possession of a pangolin skin. The settlement, finalized on 4 December 2024, mandates the Namibian Defence Force (NDF), Namibian Police (NAMPOL), and the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security to contribute N$433,300 each. The compensation will benefit Ndondji’s parents, Satjingo Antonio and Kanyana Linda, as well as his seven minor children, who depended on him for financial and emotional support.Ndondji was the primary provider for his elderly parents, contributing about N$2,000 monthly. His death has left his family in severe financial distress. According to court filings, his children, all minors, have been significantly affected by the loss of their father’s support.The family’s lawsuit, filed by the executrix of Ndondji’s estate, Anton Maria, sought N$3.3 million in damages. This included N$300,000 for the loss of parental support, N$1 million for shock, pain, and suffering, and N$2 million for the children’s financial support. Despite attempts to settle the matter amicably, government inaction led the family to pursue legal action. The settlement also includes provisions for legal costs, which the government must pay within 90 days.Speaking after the settlement, Aloys Mbombi, Ndondji’s brother, expressed mixed emotions. “As a family, we are grateful to our lawyer, who fought for us. This outcome will bring some relief to his children and parents, who were left without any support,” Mbombi said.He continued: “We’ve accepted our loss because there’s nothing we can do to bring him back. When he died, his children and parents were stranded. This settlement will ensure they are cared for financially.”The case has drawn attention to police conduct and the use of force by law enforcement. Community members in Rundu previously demonstrated, demanding accountability and questioning why no arrests had been made in connection with Ndondji’s death.According to community accounts, Ndondji was taken into custody after being found with a pangolin skin at the Sauyema Settlement. Witnesses reported seeing him in a police vehicle, making stops at various locations, including a visit to his uncle at Mile 20 village. His last confirmed sighting was at the Wimpy Filling Station at around 8:00 on 3 March 2023. By 9:00, the family was informed of his death.The family has raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding his death. They questioned how Ndondji could have been found with a pangolin skin while in custody and why it wasn’t seized earlier. They also criticised the decision to shoot him in the upper body instead of aiming for non-lethal areas, and they disputed claims that he was trying to escape.nikanor@erongo.com.na

Nampol, NDF ordered to pay N$1.3m for killing Rundu man

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-02

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Nampol, NDF ordered to pay N$1.3m for killing Rundu man

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-02

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