The ||Kharas Police Commander, Marius Katamila, has rejected rumours of ritual killings at Noordoewer.

Addressing the media conference, following a demonstration at Noordoewer over the disappearance of two men who were trying to cross the Orange River in canoe to neighbouring South Africa, Commissioner Katamila clarified that the duo drowned and did not disappear because of killings.

He said the canoe capsized and the third person made it to the shore and reported the incident to police.

"Now, I equally want to set the record straight by saying I was appointed regional commander of ||Kharas in September 2022. It has been exactly four years and one month, and there has never been any report of ritual killings since. I have been here. Two, after the sad incident, the person went back, and from what we understand, there is a representative from the Kavango Traditional Authority in the Kavango location extension in Noordoewer, and there was a gathering at this representative's house where the family members of the deceased started interrogating the survivor. And in the process, where he could not provide them with answers, they started assaulting him."

Commissioner Katamila reported three people were arrested for instigating the mob attack on the survivor and public violence.

He described the survivor's medical condition as serious but stable.

Commissioner Katamila also indicated that family members who alleged the killing were eventually allowed to search the house to de-escalate the tension.

"No remains were found. Whilst the police and the family members were busy trying to sort out and check for the remains, the other community started looting the tuck shop at that house to the extent that they had taken everything. They went so far as to damage two cars that were in the yard. That's when I instructed the Reserve Force to move in to safely take out that person because he was hiding under the bed. In the process of searching, he was found under the bed, but he was not alone. He was with three of his family members. So, I instructed the Reserve Force to go in and take the family and bring them to the police station to a safer place.

He said the crowd became so unruly it was damaging police vehicles. forcing police to fire rubber bullets and warning shorts to disperse them.