The Henties Bay community is in shock after a 78-year-old pastor fell into a hole and died from his injuries at the clinic.

This is but one of the many holes in the streets of Omdel, in the coastal town.

The municipality awarded an N$10-million tender to install a sewer system in the area, a project that was supposed to be completed in July.

These holes are, however, creating fatal problems for the community.

Last Friday, 78-year-old Cleophas Tourob fell into this hole and died from his injuries.

Tourob, who is survived by his four children and 20 grandchildren, was a well-known charismatic pastor.

Son Akwilla Areseb recounts the sad event. 

"After he fell into the hole, he called for help. Former councillor Skinni's wife, Auntie Lorraine, contacted the relevant team to come and assist in getting him out. They came and managed to take him out, after which he was taken to the clinic. When he arrived at the clinic, his body was already badly swollen – his stomach, face, feet, and other parts of his body. He passed away soon after. He was the only elder man left in the family, and he was a man who loved and praised God."

The community says that, before the incident, the contractor put up a thin net as a safety measure aimed at preventing people from falling in.

After Tourob's demise, the contractor allegedly installed much larger safety nets around the holes.

The Erongo governor Natalia |Goagoses visited Tourob's family to offer support and condolences on behalf of the government.

But she was displeased with the inadequate safety measures she found at the holes.

"Because I don't want a second life to be lost in these holes. I don't even believe this is something that can bar these children from falling in again for me. It does not look adequate, but I want to see the contract; maybe these plastics should be here. How many people must die? Municipality leadership before we can do something about this. I want to see when this project is supposed to be completed. I want to see the urgency now that life is lost."

The Henties Bay Deputy Mayor Renier Kandari confirmed that, before the hole claimed Tourob's life, a pickup truck fell into another hole, while a child almost lost his life a few weeks ago.

The family is traumatised and heartbroken and is placing much of the blame on the contractor and the municipality, whom they strongly believe are responsible for the tragedy due to a lack of adequate protection and enforcement of safety measures. A lawsuit could be on the way once the family has laid their loved one to rest.