Africa-Press – Namibia. Experts are raising alarm following the horrific murders of three young girls in Okahandja over the past month, with concerns pointing to the possible involvement of a serial killer or paedophile.
The Okahandja community is in shock following the murders of five-year-old Ingrid Maasdorp on 20 March, as well as those of Roswinds Fabianu, six, and 15-year-old Beyonce !Kharuxas last Friday and Saturday.
Maasdorp’s body was found under a bridge in the Veddersdal area on 21 March, a day after being reported missing. Fabianu was last seen on Thursday, 24 April, after being dropped off at school, but she never made it to class. Her body was discovered the following day in a graveyard within the same residential area.
Both had been learners at KW Von Marees Combined School.
On Saturday, 26 April, !Kharuxas’ body was found in the bushes at the Five Rand informal area just outside Okahandja.
Namibian Police spokesperson, Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi said the teenager had gone to a local drinking spot with friends around 22h00 on Friday. They were joined by two unknown men who reportedly bought them alcohol.
“!Kharuxas allegedly informed her friends that she was going to use the toilet and that was the last time they saw her.
The deceased was found dressed in a black top only,” Shikwambi said.
Clinical Psychologist Dr Shaun Whittaker told Nampa on Sunday Namibia needs to confront the deeper societal issues underlying such tragedies. He called for a national conversation on patriarchy, misogyny, and paedophilia.
He said perpetrators in such crimes often display issues of dominance, hatred, contempt for women and sexual fantasies involving children under 13.
He added that they tend to have no impulse control, no emotional regulation, and they themselves were possibly traumatised.
“They might have been exposed to inappropriate sexual content or dysfunctional family situations in their childhoods. I think we need to use these tragic incidents to have these discussions about patriarchy, misogyny and paedophilia,” he said.
Echoing these concerns, Dr Joab Mudzanapabwe, a clinical psychologist and forensic psychology lecturer at the University of Namibia, said evidence suggests a pattern of behaviour consistent with either a serial killer or paedophile operating in the area.
He said the cases indicate a routine in that both took place in the same geographical area (Veddersdal), at similar times, and involved girls of similar ages.
Both Maasdorp and Fabianu went missing on Thursday mornings and were found dead on Fridays, within the same vicinity, he noted.Mudzanapabwe stressed the importance of how lawenforcement classifies these crimes, urging authorities to consider whether they are dealing with isolated offenders or a serial predator.
“The nature of the crimes is almost the same. It points out that the person is likely to be operating in the area and for certain reasons,” he indicated.
Mudzanapabwe further noted that serial offenders often display organised or disorganised patterns. While amateur criminals tend to leave behind evidence and make mistakes, habitual killers are typically calculated and careful.
“Serial killers act in a certain manner which is quite systematic. They tend to act in the same way and normally present a psychological signature, which is something that is salient… You might find a cut or mark on the bodies, and that is usually a sign of serial killers. These incidents seem to be repeated patterns so it might indicate the presence of a serial killer or paedophile,” he stated.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on Sunday visited the three victims’ families and addressed the Okahandja community, announcing a curfew for residents of Okahandja as a security measure.
“I call upon all community members to adhere to the rules and regulations that will be put in place by law-enforcement in the next few days,” the Head of State said.
She also appealed for cooperation from the community members to assist law enforcement in bringing those responsible, to justice.
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