Youth Talks

The nation is reeling from the recent devastating news of five-year-old Ingrid Maasdorp’s rape and murder and the discovery of six-year-old Roslin Fabians’ body on Friday at Okahandja.
The outcry for justice and accountability is palpable across Namibia.

Youth Central asked young people for their thoughts on these horrific crimes and the broader issues.

Dezy Conradie (16):

“The murders are not just a tragedy, they are an emergency for this nation. We are crying, not just for them, but for all the voiceless victims. We are calling on our leaders to act now. Harden police investigations, enforce real laws. Namibia is bleeding, and we need justice to start healing.”

Albertina Ashikoto (12):

“It’s so tragic. Little children should never have to go through this. Teachers and parents must be more careful and keep children safe at all times. And men must cease to hurt children. This must end.”
Candice Waterboer (16):

“I’m shocked by what has happened to the minors. Their life was just cut short in such a cruel way, and it makes me feel so helpless. This cannot be normal. We need to rise up and demand justice. Children should be able to feel safe, and our leaders need to hear our voices. Enough is enough.”

Harry Ngatjikale (17):

“These crimes are scary. Too often, criminals invoke mental illness as an excuse to escape accountability. If children are not safe, then none of us are. We must stop pampering criminals. Justice must be swift and public. Our children must be protected at all costs.”

Fisabo Mapalo (18):

“As a young person, I feel fear and rage. Their deaths could have been any one of us. We have been made aware. Child safety must become a national agenda. We want systems that ensure survivors are kept safe, wth justice, and education, and no more excuses for attackers.”

Nehemiah Haikali (18):

“I’m heartbroken. It’s not just a news headline – it’s a painful reality. We need effective systems to prevent this from ever happening again. Harsher laws, faster police action, and good community education. We have to instill respect and compassion at an early age. This has to be the turning point where we can say: never again.”