A Mariental baby has died in a makeshift shelter, allegedly after being exposed to severely cold weather and malnutrition, highlighting her family’s desperate living conditions.
Susana Bock (43), who sought help to rebuild her home last month, lost her daughter, Senorita (4 months), on Monday.
Hardap regional crime investigation coordinator Theodor Kutongondo has confirmed the incident, saying the baby died at around 04h00.
Hospital records show Senorita died of natural causes.
Bock says her daughter cried a lot on Sunday night, which was very windy.
“I just started breastfeeding her, but she had no signs of fever or anything. She just cried like someone who was in pain.
“I’m assuming the wind affected her condition,” the mother says.
She says Senorita fell asleep after being breastfed.
“I went to alert my neighbours about the child’s condition and to help take her to hospital. But when I checked on my child again, she was dead,” Bock says.
The Namibian last month reported that Bock was left destitute and living in a makeshift structure of 1.6m by 2m with a baby and three schoolgoing children at Mariental after losing their home in a fire.
This space is a narrow corridor-like structure with poor roofing and gaping large openings, leaving the family exposed to the cold.
Bock at the time said Senorita had been ill and admitted to hospital, returning home shortly thereafter.
She was asking for help finding corrugated iron sheets to rebuild the family’s home.
Her life changed drastically in 2021 when her ex-boyfriend allegedly set their home on fire.
Two years after that she lost her job.
Bock says leaving the dysfunctional relationship led to the ex-boyfriend torching their home.
Community members are now asking for help to bury Senorita.
“If we can just get a N$1 000, it will help a lot to bury her.
We found out from the municipality that the burial site would cost N$600, and a small coffin N$400,” Rogeta Haack says.
Kutongondo says the police are not suspecting any foul play in Senorita’s death.
He says this type of death is classified as a sudden death due to natural causes.
The autopsy report stated the cause of death as undetermined.
Kutongondo says doctors have taken samples from Senorita’s main organs and requested a histology report.
“The histology report may give the doctors guidance on the cause of death if it is not a natural death,” he says.
Kutongondo says undetermined cases are mostly classified under natural causes or natural deaths
Community activist Rencia Kooper has expressed concerns that Bock did not receive any help since her first plea for help.
Kooper says Namibia’s Child Care and Protection Act recognises a child’s right to basic conditions of living necessary for development, including adequate shelter, care and protection, and healthcare.
She asks where a mother should seek help if elected and appointed authorities cannot help her.
“We will see now who will help her. I mean, should something go so far as a child losing their life before something is done?”
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