Judge Erasmus found all three people guilty of trafficking and kidnapping in the Joshlin Smith case. The judge said the state proved their case against Mom Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn. He noted missing Joshlin needs her village to care about her safety. No witness evidence faced real challenges during the trial.
The judge questioned why Kelly never looked for her child after she went missing. He called their behavior not that of worried parents because they already knew what had happened. Their silence during the trial came at a cost, with strong evidence against them. The case might be the first known example of child trafficking in the area, or just the first one people heard about.
Social workers knew Kelly...
South African Airways will add a third daily flight between Johannesburg and Windhoek starting May 1. The new service meets growing travel needs in the region. Flights leave Johannesburg at 5:45 a.m., 9:05 a.m., and the new 3:00 p.m. option. Return flights depart Windhoek at 8:30 a.m., 11:55 a.m., and the added 5:45 p.m. slot.
Air Connect Namibia supports this expansion for better travel choices. The extra flights aim to improve tourism, business ties, and cultural connections between both countries. Travelers gain more flexibility when planning trips. Each tourist brings about N$4,200 to Namibia, creating real jobs across the country.
Namibia Airports Company head Bisey /Uirab welcomes these positive changes. Johannesburg remains the...
Oshakati Premier Electric started a new solar plant in the Okakukiipupu area on Friday. Their subsidiary, Premier Energy, runs the site, which generates five megawatts of power. Deputy Minister Natangwe Ithete from the Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Energy led the opening ceremony.
Oshana Governor Elia Irimari spoke about everyone working together for better energy. He said they marked 25 years of Oshakati Premier Electric serving local neighborhoods. The company has brought electricity to houses, helped businesses grow, and supported regional development. This solar project shows progress toward cleaner energy options for the country. Irimari believes it will make Namibia more energy independent.
Half of South African teachers want to leave their jobs within ten years. They face heavy workloads, endless paperwork, mental health issues, and classroom violence. A study from Stellenbosch University shows that teachers stretch beyond teaching to handle social work duties with few resources. Most teachers prefer working in the Western Cape and Gauteng, with 40 percent refusing rural posts due to poor internet, limited services, and safety worries.
Many feel unprepared for students who struggle with learning, large class sizes, and behavior problems. One Western Cape teacher says students can barely focus for five minutes and show cruel behavior toward classmates. Students sell drugs, steal items, and harass others online through...
Safety experts met Thursday at Swakopmund for the Erongo Offshore Safety Conference to discuss risks facing workers. Erongo governor Neville Andre called safety the oxygen of sustainable progress. He warned that mistakes can ruin trust, harm nature, and hurt Namibia as an energy partner. He said protection must come with progress, or success becomes an illusion.
Andre asked everyone, from managers to workers, to help create safer conditions. He pushed companies to go beyond basic laws. Knowledge Ipinge spoke about the fears offshore workers face during his time leading the Walvis Bay Urban Constituency Disaster Risk Management Committee. He pointed to problems with current rules, long work hours, job worries, and mental health issues...
Tiffany Gertze tells about her family facing her brother's 18-year crack cocaine addiction in her book Living with an Addict. The Swakopmund preacher wrote her story to help others trapped in shame. She aims to show how broken lives can heal through faith.
She started writing during her brother's lowest points, collecting memories and prayers. Her writing picked up speed last year when a friend pushed her to finish. She often worked early mornings or late nights when memories came back.
Writing about the pain she still felt became one of her hardest tasks. She worried people might judge her family or question her beliefs. The publishing process taught her many lessons, but helpful people appeared when needed.
This marks her first...
DR Congo officials want to remove former President Joseph Kabila's legal protection after linking him to eastern rebels. Justice Minister Mutamba said Wednesday that they have papers, witness accounts, and facts connecting Kabila to M23 fighters who control parts of the mineral-rich east. Kabila, age 53, has denied these claims before but made no recent comment. He ran DR Congo for 18 years after his father, Laurent, died from gunshots in 2001. The military prosecutor asked senators to cancel his lifetime immunity status.
Kabila lives in South Africa but promised last month he would return to help solve the eastern conflict. His party denied reports that he visited Goma, a city that M23 fighters captured. The government banned his...
Gunmen shot dead Kenyan lawmaker Charles Were Wednesday night on a Nairobi street. Police said attackers followed his car before one jumped off a motorcycle and fired at close range. The police spokesperson called it a targeted attack. Two months ago, Were had talked about threats against his life, according to local news reports. His driver and bodyguard escaped harm but Were died at Nairobi Hospital.
The murder happened near a busy traffic circle, often patrolled by police and monitored with cameras. Top police officials visited the scene right after the shooting to start their work. President Ruto ordered a complete investigation, saying those responsible must face justice. Other lawmakers expressed anger when they gathered at the...
Parents who hide their criminal children face charges, warns Kavango East police leader Andreas Haingura. He shared this message during a regional operation running from May to June. Police plan to educate parents first before using legal tools against those who protect lawbreakers.
Crime rates keep climbing across the region, with locals complaining about a lack of police presence. Haingura announced community meetings starting May 7 after already speaking with traditional leaders, church officials, and development committees. He acknowledged many people avoid reporting crimes because of various problems.
The current weekend patrols aim to increase police visibility throughout all neighborhoods. Haingura pointed out that children as...
