11 may namib times e edition

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namib times

SERVING THE COASTAL COMMUNITY SINCE 1958 NO 6750 FRIDAY 11 MAY 2018 Tel: +264 64 - 205854 / +264 64 - 461866 /Fax: +264 64 - 204813 / 064 - 461824 / Website: www.namibtimes.net

Three Chinese nationals admit to assault of Namibian who owed them rent money Eileen van der Schyff Three Chinese nationals admitted in Walvis Bay on Wednesday that they assaulted a Namibian male who failed to pay rent. The incident took place in the harbour town's new industrial area and the 57-year-old Nambian claims to have been beaten with the fists and was also hit with a metal rake, leading to injuries. The Namibian Police at Walvis Bay confirmed the incident and said three Chinese nationals Zhang Xingdong (42), Zhang Xingpeng (age unknown) and Xiao Haoxiang (22) were arrested after a case of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm was laid against them at the Walvis Bay police station. The assault took place at the business premises Southward Investments, numbers 1 and 2 Langer Heinrich Street in the new industrial area. According to the Police the victim who was assaulted failed to pay his rent for three months and he was assaulted subsequently. No details are known, whether the rent is for a commercial premises or for a residential unit. Instead of appearing in the Walvis Bay magistrates court on the charge of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm, they opted to pay an admission of guilt fine of N$1 500 each after the charge was reduced to that of common assault. The therefore never saw in the inside of the court.

Fishermen’s logistics around peaceful demonstration branded as “outright ridiculous” Fishermen, who lost their work after an illegal strike of several weeks in 2015, want to show up in masses at the offices of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation at Swakopmund on Tuesday, to clear the air after the Corporation allegedly used inaccurate information in a recently broadcasted television program over the issue. Although it is clear the fishermen want to stage a peaceful demonstration to clear the air, the logistics around this demonstration was branded this week as outright ridiculous. “We have received an application by the group to form a convoy of vehicles on the B2 coastal road between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund at 09:00 on Tuesday. However, whether we are going to entertain this request is uncertain. Road safety on the coastal road remains a critical issue and to interfere with commuter traffic flows is dangerous”, a senior police officer at Walvis Bay said on Wednesday. He asked the questions openly - “why can’t the NBC send a small delegation to Walvis Bay?” Secondly, the time frame was un-realistic. “How do you want to depart with a convoy of vehicles at 09:00 from the Kuisebmond stadium and be ready at 10:00 in Swakopmund to deliver a petition?” “The logistics and safety concerns are not adding up”, this police officer further said. In the meantime it also remains unclear whether the Walvis Bay and Swakopmund local authorities were considered in the logistical planning of this demonstration.

Spotlights on vehicles are legal - court strikes two cases from the roll

inside EBHN share transfer completed

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British Research The mounting of additional lights to your vehicle is legal. That incluVessel to call des spotlights, irrespective of whether it is the conventional halogen Floris Steenkamp

spotlights or led (light emitting diodes) spotlights. Two cases have been struck from the roll in the Walvis Bay magistrates court this week where vehicle owners were to appear before a criminal court for having spotlights mounted to their vehicles. They were issued fines by traffic officers and decided to mount court challenges, instead of paying these fines. Veteran traffic official Dave Viljoen, was called in as an expert witness in this regard and made a presentation to one of the state prosecutors in Walvis Bay. In his presentation, Viljoen pointed out spotlights, irrespective whether it is the halogen- or led-type, are not defined in the Road Transportation Act of 2001. The fact that spotlights are not specifically defined in the Act makes it illegal for traffic officials to issue fines to vehicle owners

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Locker vom Hocker for fitting spotlights (additional lights) to their vehicles. Further inquiries by namib times, confirmed the Walvis Bay magistrates court will no more hear any cases where fines were issued to vehicle owners who have additional lights fitted to their vehicles. Furthermore, traffic officials also risk now being cited for ill-intentions if further fines in this regard are issued. “Traffic officers need to brush up their knowledge and inter-pre-

tation of the Road Traffic Act. It is “mala fide” [ill intent] to fine motorists for additional lights when the Act specifically says you may fit any additional lights to your vehicle”, explained a court official. Adding the only prerequisite is when additional lights are fitted on a vehicle, it must go dark completely when the dim switch is activated. That is opposed to the vehicle’s standard manufactured lights which is only required to display in either bright or dim mode.

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