Rising tension was reported in Katutura township near Windhoek over the murder of an Ovambo speaking man who died when he and eight others were assaulted. Four suffered injuries, two of them seriously.
The attack was made by Herero-speaking supporters of Clemens Kapuuo, former President of the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance who was assassinated on 27 March 1978. The attackers were accompanying a convoy to Okahandja to commemorate the second anniversary of the death of Mr. Kapuuo. They set upon their victims, who were on their way to Windhoek in a light truck, by barring the main highway.
SWAPO issued a statement blaming NUDO, a component of the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance, for the "callous assault", saying that it was the work of political gangsters. The statement also condemned the inaction of the police, who had carried out no arrests or even interrogations. Yet SWAPO leaders and cadres were being arrested, detained, redetained and restricted daily throughout Namibia, not on account of a crime committed, but because of their active SWAPO membership, the statement said. The killers in this case were known, yet the police had not acted to make an arrest.
Another report of assault by NUDO supporters was given by a member of the South West Africa National Union (SWANU), Mr. Hambira, and his colleague. According to his statement, they were walking in Katutura when they saw members of the bodyguard of Mr. Riruako, Chief Kapuuo's successor, assaulting a woman. The two men stopped and asked the bodyguards what they were doing. Not getting a reply, they walked on. The eight bodyguards reportedly set upon them and assaulted them.
