The community and family members of the late Ndondji Joseph Kautjingu, who was shot dead under mysterious circumstances on March 3 in Rundu, held a demonstration on Friday, demanding answers for the fact that no one has yet been arrested in connection with the case.

The community believes Kautjingu was killed by police, who apparently earlier on the night found him in possession of a pangolin's skin.

It is alleged that the late Kautingu was picked up by a police car while selling meat at Sauyema Settlement.

Later that night, he was seen visiting his uncle at Mile 20 Village, traveling in the same police vehicle.

The last time he was seen alive was at Wimpy Filling Station, still inside the same police car, at around 8 p.m.

By nine o'clock, the family received news that Kautjengu had been shot dead.

The family wants answers. "If the deceased was in a police car all the hours stated above, how or where did he get the pangolin skin? Assuming he was with it, how come it was not seen or arrested by the constable he was with? Was he a danger, or was he armed, which led to the shooting? The family demands proof. Why was the bullet aimed only at his upper body rather than his legs or any lower part of his body? What was the main reason for shooting him twice in the body? Was it to arrest him or kill him? According to the police, he was trying to run away; if that is true, how did the bullets manage to get to his shoulder and hip joint instead of his back?"

A murder case was opened against all police officers on duty during the operation that apprehended Kautjingu, with the family insisting police shot him because of the pangolin skin he was found in possession of.

The acting NamPol Regional Commandor for Kavango West Region, Deputy Commissioner Aino Nambahu, says no arrest has yet been made and that investigations are ongoing.

"In this case, yes, the family asked a lot of questions that they need clarity on, and that is the four W's and H of who, why, when, where, and how it happened. Of course, all of these answers will be dealt with and answered in court. I believe it is premature to discuss our part of the investigation at this time, but case CR54 of March this year has been opened against that, which is a murder case, and obviously, with the competent court of law that we have in Namibia, this case will end up in court, and the court will cross-examine what happened. Who did it? Why? All this clarity that you need, that is the right place to get it. So, hence, I want to say that we should be patient and wait until that time when the case docket is in the court."

Nambahu says the police officer who drove with the deceased on the night in question was identified and will be dealt with for abuse of government property.

If he should be found to have been part of the murder case, the senior officer said, he would be charged.

Receiving the demonstrators' petition, Governor of Kavango East Region Bonifatius Wakudumo said his office would see to it that they delivered it to the relevant officials in the Ministry of Safety and Security.

The family is calling for an arrest to be made within the next 14 days. 

Ndondji Joseph Kautjingu was buried on Saturday.