CHIEF INSULTED OVER DETAINEE when he questions police about Katofa detention BY GWEN LISTER BOTH POLICE AND ARMY spokesmen in Windhoek have denied that they are holding Mr Josef Katofa and his brother, Mr Nicodemus Katofa; while from the north comes a report that Ombalantu headman, Oswen Mukulo, was badly insulted and threatened by members of the police at the Ombalantu police station, where he went to inquire about the whereabouts of the Katofa brothers. The reported detention of the Katofa brothers on July 7 in the vicinity of Ombalantu, has caused great concern in northern Namibia, and Headman Mukulo claims that he saw Josef Katofa, who is being held at Ombalantu by police. H~ also claimed that the man had allegedly been assaulted and his head buried in a hole in the ground. I Approached for confirmation ofthe Mr Katofa was detained in May 1984 detention of the Katofa brothers in under Proclamation AG 26, and his Windhoek, both police and army brother, Nicodemus (now c1etained spokesmen denied that he was being with him) brought the application for held. his release. Residents ofthe north have also ex­ pressed fury at the insulting language used by white members of the police when Mr Mukulo went to the Om- ' balantu police station following a I meeting o(headmen, to inquire about tURFEW VItTIM SPEAKS the Katofa brothers. He report,ed that he was-badly insulted and threatened by police there. FROM HOSPITAL BED Meanwhile a lawyer for the Katofa THE 21-year-old man who was shot and seriously wounded by family has confirmed that he had been contacted a week ago concerning security forces in northern Namibia last week, Mr Israel Mwan­ his detention and that they were con­ dingi, said yesterday from his hospital bed in Windhoek, that he sidering possible legal action. He had been unaware of the fact that curfew regulations applied to declined to comment any further. the Ongwediva area. The detention of Mr Josef Katofa Mr M wandingi and his girlfriend, Ms Laina Taapopi (17), were shot in the Valom­ comes in the wake of his detention on bola township ofOngwediva during the early hours oflast Thursday morning. previous occasions under 'security' The couple had been travelling in a car returning home after attending a par­ legislation. In January this year, in­ .~, Ii ty, when security forces opened fire, killing Ms Taapopi instantly and seriously terim government Justice Minister, injuring Mr Mwandingi. Fanuel Kozonguizi, confirmed Josef "Have you heard?" "I know that people move freely at night in the Ongwediva residential areas, Katofa's re-detention, along with his therefore when I heard I had contravened the curfew restrictions it came as a great aging father. Josef Katofa was in the' surprise," said Mr Mwandingi. news when he was detained for a A spokesman for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN) said lengthy period under AG 26, until the yesterday that the curfew regulations in the residential areas ofOngwediva, Oluno Supreme Court ordered his release and Oshakati were ambiguous, with many residents under the impression that f>;om detention; a judgement later the curfew was not applicable in these areas. upheld by the Appellate Division in A hospital spokesman described Mr Mwandingi's condition as "stable and Bloemfontein. At the time, the interim satisfactory". government Cabinet Chairman oppos­ Lawyers have confirmed that they would be taking the matter further. ed his release. of</!'li * Beautiful dress material pure cotton only R4,92 per metre * Smart men's Sunday hat only R16,45 ANOTHER COMPOUND RAIDED ~ '-WOERMANN POLICE raided the Kuisebmond compound this week and ar­ BROCK Tel: 32391 rested some 200 people in the swoop. Full story inside. ---WHOLESALE _____• 2 Friday July 17 1987 .THE NAMIBIAN representing the community as a BY MBATJIUA NGAVIRUE whole. Mr Uulenga will release details of these demands once TeL has AT A stormy meeting held in responded. the mining town ofTsumeb this Despite attempts by businessmen in week, the copper mine's TeL can't meet demands these northern towns to play down the General Manager, Mr Bob many to be a way offorcingTeL to take A member ofthe workers' delegation past Jew weeks, and although in the impact of the boycott, indications are Meiring, told representatives a stronger stand on political issues which met Mr Meiring, Pastor Hevita, early stages it was supported largely that the stayaway by black consumers of the on-going Tsumeb con­ which directly affect its employees­ said that the TeL manager had by mineworkersemployed at TeL, in· is seriously affecting white-owned sumer boycott that Tsumeb issues such as the war in the north and adopted an "extremely negative and dications are that the campaign now businesses. Corporation Limited (TCL), the high taxes which they are forced to hostile attitude", and that the discus­ enjoys widespread support amongst Tsumeb residents report that earlier pay "in order to finance the war". sion had rapidly turned into a shouting the rest of the community in Tsumeb, this month, during the period when it was financially not in a posi­ is most workers' payday, there was very tion to meet the demands for The main obstacle in resolving the match. Kombat, Otjihase and other TeL crisis up to now has been the attitude The breakdown of talks was at­ centres. little business activity. The first week higher wages being made by When the miners initiated thc cam· of every month is normally the busiest. workers at the mine. of TeL, where it appears that mine tributed mainly to Mr Meiring's at­ management will not negotiate direct· tempts to dismiss the entire campaign paign, they were reacting spon· Most businessmen, when approach­ He also refused to discuss any issues ly with boycott leaders, who state that as being "Swapo-inspired". taneously to grievances and lacked ed for comment, seemed reluctant to not directly related to the mine. any representations made should be Pastor Hevita added that he per­ any real leadership and organisation. reveal the extent to which business The consumer boycott, which has made through the Nombtsoub town sonally felt that Mr Meiring had been The present situation, however, is had dropped off. been in operation for almost two council. "arrogant" and had not shown them taking on an altogether different The manager of a local branch of months, is regarded by workers as a This condition was rejected on the the "respect they were entitled to as perspective. Model Supermarket said that buying means to gain employment conces­ grounds that, apart from being spiritual and community leaders The General Secretary of the had only fallen by a small amount, and sions such as increased wages and im­ unelected and unrepresentative, the representing their people". Mineworkers Union of Namibia, Mr added that he was not prepared to give proved safety conditions on the job. council is completely "toothless' and The consumer boycott appears to Ben Uulenga, said this week that the any further information. The boycott is also considered by only follows instructions from TeL. have gained in momentum during the Union would now become more active· The angriest comment came from ly involved, and would be presenting . the the accountant at lnge Menne TeL with its own demands on behalf Store, a certain Mr Coleman, whose of its members. trite opinion of the boycott campaign The demands being made by the was that the "whole thing was.started MUN are closely-aligned to those be­ by the Ovambos", and that other race ing made by the ad-hoc committee groups were still buying. KHOMASDAL COLLEGE 'BACK TO NORMAL' --..---------BYESAUNOWASEB----------~­ EVERYTHING HAD seemingly returned to normal at the Khomasdal Teachers Training College when it reopened on Tues­ day this week after a closure with immediate effect in March as a result of class boycotts by the students. Students approached by The N ami­ they seemed more serious with their bian this week, were however cautious studies than ever before. of uttering a word in what can be seen The College was indefinitely closed as circumventing possible confronta­ down in March after persistent class tion with the school authorities. boycotts - first by the students and After having been asked to register then surprising by the lecturers. anew for admission to the College, Meanwhile the Departmental Com­ students were accepted only after mittee ·appointed to investigate the A SMILING BROTHERWouterus van den Hout, hands out blankets to senior Katutura citizens, most of whom are pover­ agreeing to certain conditions put to matter has completed its work and had ty stricken and without the means to combat the rigours of Winter. This is the second time the Roman Catholic Church them. forwarded a full report with recom· has handed out blankets to the poor of Katutura. All the blankets were handed oot in the space of two days. One of the students remarked "Our mendations from the Executive. problems and grievances have not yet The report was believed to have set been attended to, and I don't think the the basis according to which the authorities are prepared to do that. I students were re-admitted. have no other option but to continue - with my studies." Other students approached by this newspaper also conveyed the impres­ Berseba scholars sion that they had no other course open to be accomodated Accountants but to obey in silence. However, the College spokesman Mr at AME in Gibeon Challenging positions in a Bill Phillips, said the general at· mosphere at the College was "amaz­ until dispute is unique environment ingly relaxed:' adding that the finally resolved CDM (Pty) Limited is a wholly students' grievances would be discuss­ CA's, CMA's and CIS's and ed soon.