The Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation has denied claims of being unhelpful when assisting the families of Namibian students who died and were injured in a recent Cape Town accident.
Coverdale Ngatangue Pandereepo (26) and David Nghinomwami Sheya Nashidengo (26) died in a car crash in Cape Town, while Dylan Ndeupao Germano (27) was injured.
International relations executive director Penda Naanda yesterday said both the ministry and the consulate have been directly in contact with the families to facilitate the repatriation of the bodies of the students.
“The consulate is in contact with the person representing both the families, and the family representative has been advised on what documentation to present to the mission, prior to seeking approval from the Ministry of Health and Social Services and Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security for the repatriation to take place,” Naanda said.
Naanda argued that the ministry, as well as their consulate in Cape Town continue to directly interact with the family members of the deceased.
“The consulate general and her staff have visited the surviving person in hospital on several occasions, and are in direct contact with the family representative in Cape Town,” Naanda said.
Meanwhile, Pandereepo’s father, Theofilus, yesterday said the ministry has slowly improved in terms of offering assistance.
“There has been some change… but slowly,” he said when asked if the ministry has assisted since three days ago.
He also questioned why the Namibian High Commission has not stepped in, because “isn’t it their job?”.
On Monday, Theofilus said the Namibian government has not been helpful.
“The government of ours, they don’t care,” the father said when asked about the assistance the family has received.
According to the ministry, the three men were driving on the N1 road at the Koeberg interchange to the Cape Town central business district, when the driver lost control of the vehicle and overturned.
“It is said that the two men died on the accident scene, due to the nature of injuries sustained, while the passenger at the backseat survived the crash,” Naanda said.
However, the families were informed that their sons lost control as a result of rocks and debris in the road.
Theofilus also clarified to The Namibian yesterday that the family had not yet buried his son.
He said he had meant to say on Monday that they held a memorial service for his son and not a funeral.
The ministry responded a week after The Namibian requested information about the incident.
When first contacted, Naanda said he was off at the time and referred The Namibian to Rebekka Iyambo, who was acting in his role.
Attempts to get hold of Iyambo through messages to ministry spokesperson Roman Kanjore went unanswered.
Naanda responded late on Monday after returning to the office.
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