By: Annakleta Haikera
Namibia has recorded more than 4,835 cases of defamation of character in the past three years, Inspector General of the Namibian Police Force Joseph Shikongo revealed this week.
Speaking at the launch of the Ethical Use of Social Media Campaign in Windhoek, Shikongo said that from April 2022 to April 2025, the country registered 4,835 defamation cases.
He further reported that during the same period, police documented 11,990 fraud cases and 9,039 crimen injuria cases committed via online platforms countrywide. Other recorded crimes included 165 theft under false pretence cases, six assaults by threat, two extortions, and six human trafficking cases.
Shikongo said the trafficking cases involved the online recruitment of 38 Namibians to work abroad, 50 recruited for work in Namibia, and four foreign nationals lured to the country for various purposes.
He warned that other social media-related offences such as cyberbullying, online child exploitation, distribution of explicit content without consent, hate speech, and incitement of violence remain on the rise.
“These offences are very harmful and may result in serious consequences and punishment under Namibian law,” he cautioned.
Meanwhile, Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofelus, called on Namibians to use social media responsibly.
“Think before you post, verify before you share, and engage without causing harm,” she advised.
Theofelus raised concern about the impact of misinformation, disinformation, and privacy breaches, saying they have contributed to growing mental health challenges and the loss of productive citizens.
She stressed that “crimes perpetrated online carry the same weight as those committed offline and deserve equal attention from law enforcement.”
In 2024, Hermanus Scholtz brought forth a defamation of character lawsuit against Geraldo Clint Smith in the Windhoek High Court’s Main Division (case no. HC-MD-CIV-ACT-DEL-2022/04726).
The dispute was centred on the allegedly defamatory statements made by Smith, to which Scholtz responded by seeking both patrimonial (financial) and non-patrimonial (reputational) damages.
The court’s judgement, delivered on 3 April 2024, examined the essential elements of defamation under Namibian law and outlined key defences such as truth, public interest, fair comment, and privilege.
