Late youth leader and lawmaker Mandela Kapere was buried at the Pionierspark Cemetery in Windhoek. He died on the 7 December at the age of 38, after contracting COVID-19. A few relatives and friends attended the burial, which the State conducted in compliance with COVID-19 regulations. The burial ceremony was marked by a gun salute for the late youth leader, who President Hage Geingob described as a gentle giant for his humble and soft approach to life and discussions. Son of diplomat Asser Kapere and his wife, Maria, the late Kapere was former Swakopmund junior mayor, a student activist, as well as secretary-general and executive chairperson of the National Youth Council of Namibia. He was elected Central Committee member of SWAPO at the 2017 Congress and a lawmaker in the current National Assembly, following last year's general elections. Kapere is survived by his parents, wife Stella, siblings and two children.