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Independent Namib
Tel: 064 200497
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Issue 154 - Thurs, 25 June 2015 to Wed, 01 July 2015
Diamond Arrow Winner Best Community Newspaper 2014
Namibians can only develop self-sustainability through concerted facilitation and empowerment of the Namibian populace in the core activities of the economy.
Walvis Bay Private High School victorious against reigning champions, Windhoek Gymnasium.
Namport CEO, Bisey /Uirab on the implementation of Namport's new procurement policies.
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Kudu Building gets a face lift
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Swimmers, Ulla Gossow-Buttner, Sandy Le Roux and Bobby Jo Bassingthwaighte are three Swakopmund ladies who are going to make history and swim the English Channel in August for a 'Strokes for Earth' environment awareness campaign. (Photo Donna Collins)
Three women to conquer The Dragan’s Lair
the English Channel Swakopmund ladies swimming for mother earth Donna Collins Brave and daring is one way to describe three 40-something Swakopmund women, who are going to make history in August when they attempt to conquer the English Channel in a never-done-before mission - a 'Strokes for Earth' driven effort to raise awareness for the environment. Bobby-Jo Bassingthwaighte, Sandy Le Roux and Ulla Gossow-Buttner will be flying out on 19 August, 2015 to Folkstown to splash off from 'Shakespeare Beach' in Dover, where they will embark on a three day swim across the English channel to France
and back. The girls will have over 30 hours of swimming to cover a 90 kilometre stretch. Whilst Bobby, Ulla and Sandy could be termed as ordinary Namibian women, who hold down jobs, have children and are not Olympic swimmers, what they have set out to do is extraordinary. In fact, they will be the first three women in the world to ever attempt a two-way relay crossing through the icy English Channel. And to do this they have been given the green light by the Channel Swimming Association (CSA), an international body which has laid down strict rules and regulations. It is one thing crossing the English Channel, but another dodging the
many boats and vessels that have turned this waterway into one of the busiest routes between two countries. The women will be accompanied by a fishing boat manned by back up crew members, a boat pilot, and CSA observer. "Our challenges are the distance, the cold, the boat traffic, jelly fish, sea sickness and fatigue," said Bobby Jo, who was the first Namibian woman to finish a swim across the English channel in 1999, and knows what she is talking about. Continued on Page 2
Brave victim of paedophilia faces her abuser Julia Hango A 63-year old Serbian man, Dragan Vujicin, appeared in the Swakopmund Magistrate court last week Thursday to receive sentencing for the alleged sexual abuse of four minors. The investigation of the case unearthed sordid details in which the main complainant and several friends alleged that they were not only molested by Vuljicin, but were also paid to perform sexual acts on him. Dragan Vuljicin’s case was postponed to 16 November and his bail has been extended. It is understood that all investigations have been finalised and the docket is ready for the Prosecutor General
to make a final decision regarding this case. Vuljicin’s first victim was his step daughter, whom he allegedly molested for nine years. Lucy Witts is now a mother of 2, wife, businesswoman and filmmaker. She was born in Cape Town and moved to Swakopmund when she was 3 years old. She is currently making a documentary about her experiences and in an interview with the Namib Independent, she recalls how it all started. “My mom was going through a tumultuous time after her divorce from my biological father. I remember Dragan being very attentive, and he doted on me. It started slowly and progressively.” Today Lucy is 41 and Continued on Page 3