21/07/2024
*OCCPA Incident Report*
*Success in Ozonahi/Okakarara*
No CR opened - handled as a counseling/teaching momemt with Okakarara Police Station.
ON 19/07/2024 at about 20:00 Community Policing Members at Okahua village, Ozonahi, reported an incident of possible child labour and child neglect. It's alleged that a stateless child, OvaHakaona person, of suspected of age 14 years old, was employed as a homestead worker at Okahua village for approximately 2 months to date. Responding to the report: OCCPA Chairperson Vezuva Aluteni, OCCPA Vice Chairperson Alfons Tjikumise, OCCPA PRO / Okamatapati Resevest Constable Elvid Vihajo and OCCPA Okatjoruu Branch Rep Erna Mazuva. The child involved was allegedly being abused by the suspected employer - insulted, assaulted on occasion and not paid. The OCCPA team visited the said homestead and found 2 adult daughters of of the suspected employer, an adult male who is believed to be the boyfriend of one of the women and an adult female cousin of the 2 daughters from a neighboring homestead. All OCCPA members presented their cards and informed the persons found at the fire place of the reason for the visit and further went on to inform them of the potential contraventions and the possible penalties and consequences. OCCPA Chairperson gave them his cellphone number for the suspected employer to call. The minor was left in the care of the Community Policing Member at Okahua.
ON 20/07/2024 OCCPA Chairperson obtained the cellphone number of the suspected employer at 10:51 as well as the names of the parents and possible whereabouts of the parents of the minor child. OCCPA Chairperson called the suspected employers, introduced himself, informed her of the reason for the call and advised her to be careful of self incrimination as this was a counseling session and that further similar incidents will warrant legal action. OCCPA Chairperson counseled the suspected employer and although she was fuming, she was advised that she needed to ensure that the minor child was compensated for work done. The amount was pegged at N$600.00. The suspected employer agreed to pay the N$600.00 in two installments. 1st installment on Monday July 22,2024 and 2nd installment on Monday, July 29, 2024. The money to be brought to Okakarara Police Station and mother of minor child to receive such money. In addition OCCPA Chairperson went to locate the mother of the minor child at Okakarara, behind pink house near and old death dam hole. Mother was not at home and the community members of the OvaHakaona community assisted in locating the mother. Eventually the mother was located and presented to OCCPA Chairperson. Mother was counseled on danger of child labour and the legal implications and contraventions of such acts. The mother was remorseful of actions. She was unaware of the minor child's whereabouts but was released of having found him. Minor child was reunited with the mother at Okakarara. The mother confirmed that her son is back in her care and is in good spirits and good health.
Warrant Officer Kandirire from Okakarara Police Station was Resourceful in all aspects of the case.
*Reporting* OCCPA Chairperson Vezuva Aluteni
