Family urges public not to share hospital images of young man following rooftop incident

By: Staff Reporter

Family members of a 23-year-old man who reportedly escaped from police custody last week in Rundu and later climbed onto the roof of a building, allegedly threatening to take his own life, have raised serious concerns over the circulation of his photograph while he is in hospital on social media.

The incident occurred on 08 April 2026, and the young man is currently recovering at the Rundu Intermediate Hospital.

According to the family, he remains hospitalised after sustaining injuries during the incident and is receiving both medical treatment and counselling.

However, relatives say members of the public have continued attempting to take pictures of him while he is in a visibly vulnerable state, adding one such image was widely circulated on social media platforms and reportedly shared with some media outlets last week.

An uncle of the young man, Frans Kamina, said the family does not know who captured or distributed the photograph.

He strongly condemned its circulation, stating that it was done without the consent of either the family or the hospital.

Kamina emphasised that the young man is going through a deeply sensitive period and that sharing such images only worsens his emotional distress and violates his dignity.

He has therefore appealed to the public and media platforms to refrain from sharing the image and to respect the individual’s privacy and wellbeing during this difficult time.

Meanwhile, Rundu police station commander, chief inspector Hermine Muranda, also expressed disappointment over the incident. She warned that anyone found taking or distributing such images could face legal consequences.

The young man remains under police custody while receiving care at the hospital.