By: Ludorf Iyambo
A desperate father whose son has been missing at sea for over a month has lost hope that he will be found alive.
Jonas Heita (35) went missing while onboard a Hangana Seafood vessel on 7 February.
Philipus Heita (70) told The Villager that he is just hoping that maybe they will find some evidence at the seashore one day.
“I was also a fisherman, and when someone falls in the sea, there is no hope to find him alive, neither am I hoping to find Heita still alive.
“If I remember it very well, my son is not the first person to go missing in Hangana Seafood company. Nothing has been found for all the missing people,” said the grieving father.
Philipus narrated that the search was officially called off from the company’s side. He further said the Erongo police are currently dealing with the case.
“The police opened a case for the missing person. I don’t know now how far is the police with their investigation. They said they would inform the family if they found something.
“They did not inform us of anything, and they did not get anything yet. In general, I don’t know how they do their job, but they promise that once they get something, they will update us,” said the father.
He said the company did not compensate the family in any way up to date.
Philipus stated that the company did not cut off Heita’s salary. “Heita will be still receiving his salary until the time the court issues him a death certificate. At the moment, his bank account is frozen. No one can withdraw his money until the time he is declared dead by the court of law.”
According to the Erongo crime coordinator, Ileni Shapumba, the police are investigating a missing person’s case, but they don’t have a trace yet.
Hangana seafood spokesperson Roux-Che Locke, when approached for comment, informed The Villager to send the company an email. The company had not responded by Tuesday.
Hangana Seafood company is the same company where, two years back, another family was left in grief when their son, Captain Ryan Gordon, went missing at sea, prompting a desperate search in a race against time.
Namibia has, over the years, had cases of fishermen who died at sea. However, the biggest disaster at sea happened in June 2002 at Luderitz when 12 crew members died after a fishing vessel known as Meob Bay capsized.
The fishing vessel belonged to Marco Fishing.
