ONDANGWA – The Ondangwa man, who allegedly murdered his girlfriend and daughter, and seriously injured his son, could not appear in court yesterday, as he is said to be in a critical condition. 

Officials at the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court said the suspect, accused of stabbing his girlfriend and their minor child multiple times at Okangwena on Saturday, was unable to appear in court yesterday, as he was still hospitalised at the Onandjokwe state hospital, where his condition is described as life-threatening.  

The suspect was rushed to hospital over the weekend after he allegedly overdosed on some unspecified drugs.

“He was supposed to appear in court today, but he is still not in a good condition. He will only appear once he is in a stable condition,” said a court official.

It is alleged that Kandume, who hails from the Ohenghono in the Ohangwena region, stabbed and killed his 37-year-old girlfriend Ruth Ndapandula Immanuel and his two-year-old daughter Lovisa Kandume, while his 13-year-old son is reportedly stable in a local hospital.

The surviving five-year-old daughter has been taken in for counselling after witnessing the incidents.

Close relatives told New Era that Immanuel has been abused by Kandume on various occasions.

According to the family, Kandume and Immanuel visited a pension payout centre on Saturday before retreating to their Okangwena home.

 “When they came back, the suspect told the people in their area that he would kill his girlfriend with a knife.”  

After the murder, Kandume told one of Immanuel’s sisters to visit their home, but she refused.

The victim’s aunt, Kelao Hamwele, said a few hours later, the suspect went back to the victim’s sister’s house, calling her to come and see what he had done to her relatives.

“When she arrived, she found two people dead and the injured boy in a critical condition, while nothing happened to the other child,” she recounted.

 Kandume was arrested Saturday morning. - ashikololo@nepc.com.na