Man fatally stabs himself over baby mama's chats with another man
A tragic incident unfolded in Otjomuise on the evening of 22 March, when 28-year-old Clayton Lee Manze allegedly took his own life after discovering messages on the phone of his child's mother, suggesting she had moved on with another man.
According to the Namibian Police, Manze reportedly stabbed himself twice in the chest at approximately 20:00 on Saturday. Friends immediately transported him to Katutura State Hospital via ambulance, but he succumbed to his injuries.
A statement from the Namibian Police detailed the incident: “It is further alleged, according to friends, that the deceased committed suicide by stabbing himself after unlawfully accessing his girlfriend’s (child’s mother’s) cellphone and discovering that she had moved on.”
A knife, believed to have been used in the act, was recovered at the scene.
Speaking to Namibian Sun, Manze’s current girlfriend – who is not the mother of his child – shed light on his life and aspirations. Preferring to remain anonymous, she will be referred to as Shannon in this article.
Shannon described Manze as a man of ambition, deeply committed to his family and future. A student pursuing an honours degree in accounting at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), he harboured dreams of one day owning a home for his loved ones.
Last hours
She recounted her last conversation with him: “I spoke to him on Saturday afternoon around midday. The last thing he told me was that he loved me. I honestly don’t know what happened or why he did it, as I am also hearing conflicting accounts.”
Their relationship had evolved from a high school romance into something more serious last year. However, Shannon claimed that tensions had previously flared between her and Manze’s child's mother, allegedly culminating in a violent altercation at a festival in Keetmanshoop in December.
“I was physically attacked by her and her sisters, but I let it go because there was nothing I could do,” she recalled.
Despite an alleged strained co-parenting dynamic between Manze and his child's mother, Shannon described him as a dedicated father. “What man, who didn’t love his child and girlfriend, would work full-time, study at night, and still find time for his son?” she asked, holding back tears.
Shannon further disclosed that, while she had a son of her own who bonded with Manze, she was allegedly never permitted to spend time with his son – an arrangement she says was dictated by the child’s mother. Namibian Sun attempted to reach Manze’s ex for comment, but she had not responded at the time of publication.
Past trauma
Manze’s tragic demise comes nearly two decades after he survived a harrowing family massacre. In December 2006, his father, Oscar Manze, who was then head of Keetmanshoop prison, shot and killed four people – including his wife and two-year-old daughter – before taking his own life.
Reports from The Namibian at the time detailed how young Clayton discovered the bodies of his slain family members. Prior to the killings, Oscar Manze had reportedly reached out to Detective Sergeant Helena Ashikoto of the woman and child protection unit, seeking counselling for personal issues. However, his plea for help came too late.
According to reports, Oscar Manze had checked out a service pistol from the prison before fatally shooting his best friend, Jason Tjipo, followed by his wife and young daughter.
Psychologist Dr Shaun Whittaker described Clayton Manze’s death as “deeply tragic”, highlighting the long-lasting psychological effects of past trauma.
“Discovering the horrific fate of his father and family must have been profoundly scarring. Trauma of that magnitude leaves deep emotional wounds, and it is entirely possible that those unresolved experiences contributed to this incident,” Whittaker said.
He further noted the potential role of learned behaviour: “Tragically, exposure to extreme violence within the family can create a pattern that repeats itself. In this case, the intensity of emotions leading to his self-inflicted wounds suggests overwhelming anger – anger at life, at circumstances, and possibly at himself.”
As speculation continues to swirl around the circumstances of Clayton Manze’s death, his friends and family have chosen to remain silent, refraining from public comment for now.
According to the Namibian Police, Manze reportedly stabbed himself twice in the chest at approximately 20:00 on Saturday. Friends immediately transported him to Katutura State Hospital via ambulance, but he succumbed to his injuries.
A statement from the Namibian Police detailed the incident: “It is further alleged, according to friends, that the deceased committed suicide by stabbing himself after unlawfully accessing his girlfriend’s (child’s mother’s) cellphone and discovering that she had moved on.”
A knife, believed to have been used in the act, was recovered at the scene.
Speaking to Namibian Sun, Manze’s current girlfriend – who is not the mother of his child – shed light on his life and aspirations. Preferring to remain anonymous, she will be referred to as Shannon in this article.
Shannon described Manze as a man of ambition, deeply committed to his family and future. A student pursuing an honours degree in accounting at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), he harboured dreams of one day owning a home for his loved ones.
Last hours
She recounted her last conversation with him: “I spoke to him on Saturday afternoon around midday. The last thing he told me was that he loved me. I honestly don’t know what happened or why he did it, as I am also hearing conflicting accounts.”
Their relationship had evolved from a high school romance into something more serious last year. However, Shannon claimed that tensions had previously flared between her and Manze’s child's mother, allegedly culminating in a violent altercation at a festival in Keetmanshoop in December.
“I was physically attacked by her and her sisters, but I let it go because there was nothing I could do,” she recalled.
Despite an alleged strained co-parenting dynamic between Manze and his child's mother, Shannon described him as a dedicated father. “What man, who didn’t love his child and girlfriend, would work full-time, study at night, and still find time for his son?” she asked, holding back tears.
Shannon further disclosed that, while she had a son of her own who bonded with Manze, she was allegedly never permitted to spend time with his son – an arrangement she says was dictated by the child’s mother. Namibian Sun attempted to reach Manze’s ex for comment, but she had not responded at the time of publication.
Past trauma
Manze’s tragic demise comes nearly two decades after he survived a harrowing family massacre. In December 2006, his father, Oscar Manze, who was then head of Keetmanshoop prison, shot and killed four people – including his wife and two-year-old daughter – before taking his own life.
Reports from The Namibian at the time detailed how young Clayton discovered the bodies of his slain family members. Prior to the killings, Oscar Manze had reportedly reached out to Detective Sergeant Helena Ashikoto of the woman and child protection unit, seeking counselling for personal issues. However, his plea for help came too late.
According to reports, Oscar Manze had checked out a service pistol from the prison before fatally shooting his best friend, Jason Tjipo, followed by his wife and young daughter.
Psychologist Dr Shaun Whittaker described Clayton Manze’s death as “deeply tragic”, highlighting the long-lasting psychological effects of past trauma.
“Discovering the horrific fate of his father and family must have been profoundly scarring. Trauma of that magnitude leaves deep emotional wounds, and it is entirely possible that those unresolved experiences contributed to this incident,” Whittaker said.
He further noted the potential role of learned behaviour: “Tragically, exposure to extreme violence within the family can create a pattern that repeats itself. In this case, the intensity of emotions leading to his self-inflicted wounds suggests overwhelming anger – anger at life, at circumstances, and possibly at himself.”
As speculation continues to swirl around the circumstances of Clayton Manze’s death, his friends and family have chosen to remain silent, refraining from public comment for now.
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