Government responds to Okahandja crisis with immediate and long-term measures

 

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has appointed Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Dr. Emma Kantema, to head a special Task Force following the tragic killings of three minors in Okahandja.

Providing an update on government efforts, Dr. Kantema announced a series of safety, security, and psychosocial support measures aimed at restoring stability in the community and ensuring the protection of learners and residents.

Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Dr. Emma Kantema

The Task Force, comprising five ministries – Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Health and Social Services, Education, Justice and Labour Relations, and Home Affairs, Safety and Security – was swiftly constituted to coordinate strategic interventions on the ground.

Minister Kantema said the committee’s immediate priority is to support the affected families and community members. A multidisciplinary psychosocial support team, including senior psychologists, mental health specialists, a clinical psychologist, an educational psychologist, and social workers, has already been deployed to Okahandja. The team is providing trauma counselling to learners, teachers, parents, and the families directly affected by the tragedy.

 

Security enhancements at the affected school are also underway. Plans include installing surveillance cameras, increasing the number of security officers at both school gates, and introducing school patrols near a high-risk area where many learners are dropped off. Approximately 85% of the students cross a busy road from a nearby taxi rank, making the need for heightened patrols critical.

“We are taking a holistic approach to ensure the safety of our children,” Kantema said, emphasising that children should feel secure at school and within their communities. “Our children should not dread going to school because of safety issues.”

Further, a security risk assessment is being conducted in collaboration with the security cluster to guide the necessary infrastructure upgrades and broader safety measures around the school environment.

The Minister also noted that beyond immediate actions, the Task Force is working on medium- and long-term interventions to strengthen safety and protection measures across the country. “We are committed to ensuring Namibians are safe, protected, and secure,” she stated.

Meanwhile, police authorities confirmed that three individuals are currently being questioned in connection with the killings, although no arrests have been made yet. Investigations are ongoing.