Naked State House intruder’s family demands answers

The family of Giano Seibeb (29), who is accused of trespassing at State House in Windhoek on Thursday last week, is demanding to see closed-circuit television footage of the incident.

The event has led to president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah suspending police inspector general Joseph Shikongo due to the security breach.

Seibeb’s cousin, Melani Seibes (28), yesterday told The Namibian that the family only learned about the incident on Tuesday after seeing on social media that he had made his first appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court.

The family also wants answers from the government on how Seibeb managed to escape Windhoek Central Hospital’s mental health centre, where he was admitted before the incident.

“As a family member of Seibeb, we want to see how he entered State House; we want to see the footage of everything, because he cannot be punished without proof.

“We reported him missing at Otjomuise Police Station on 5 April, but we did not get any help tracing him,” Seibes said.

National police spokesperson deputy commissioner Kauna Shikwambi says the police will comment on the matter on Thursday after official communication with acting inspector general Anne-Marie Nainda.

Seibeb is charged with counts of trespassing, indecent exposure, which is a contravention of a section of the Combating of Immoral Practices Act of 1980, and housebreaking with intent to commit a crime unknown to the state.

Presidential spokesperson Jonas Mbambo says the Presidency cannot comment on the matter as it is before the courts.

“There is a separation of powers and this matter is now before the courts, where further investigations will be carried out,” he says.

Seibeb is set to undergo a period of psychiatric observation to determine if he can understand court proceedings.

This is in terms of an order issued by magistrate Eliud Nakulonda in court on Tuesday.

REPORTED MISSING

Seibeb’s family shared their own ‘missing person’ notice on social media on 21 April, asking the public to help locate their relative after Seibeb allegedly escaped from the hospital’s mental health centre last Wednesday.

Seibes says the family is shocked and heartbroken.

“We are not happy with comments made about Seibeb by some public members.

Why did the police not look for the family to notify us about the arrest before he appeared in court?” she asked yesterday.

She said the family has been relying on the media for information.

“We are not sure where he is detained. Some are saying he is at Windhoek Correctional Facility,” she said.

Ministry of Health and Social Services spokesperson Walters Kamaya says he will comment on the matter once he has sufficient information.

‘WORSENING CONDITION’

Seibeb, who hails from Omitara in the Omaheke region, is the father of two children, aged six and three.

He is the eldest of four siblings.

The family says he has a history of mental illness, which started two years ago.

Seibeb has been on treatment for the past year.

His mother, Katrina Seibes (51) yesterday told The Namibian that the police on Tuesday afternoon approached her at home in Otjomuise to inform her that her son was arrested and has made his first court appearance.

“At the beginning of last month he was admitted to the mental hospital, and his condition worsened after refusing to take medication.

He said he did not want to be injected or take pills that had side effects,” she said.

Katrina questioned how her son continuously escapes from the mental hospital and how he entered State House amid tight security.

“The medical-mental condition was not clearly explained to me by the doctors and when I asked what was wrong with my child. I was told to advise him to take medication.”

Seibeb is described by his family as a quiet and observant person who does not like fights. He prefers being alone, they say.

According to them, Seibeb was last employed as a gardener at a company close to Neudam.

He attended school and dropped out of high school shortly after his father’s death.

Seibeb has been living in Otjomuise’s 8ste Laan with his mother, step-father and siblings.

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