“Vat hom, Mufasa!”
According to the Erongo police spokesperson, Senior Inspector Judith Shomongula, the man who was arrested last Saturday morning at Swakopmund after his pitbull dog was apparently shot and killed by a police officer “refused to cooperate with police and released a vicious dog on police officers.”
The dog owner, Christian Petrus (“Pepi”) was arrested in contravention of Section 6, (a) read with Section 1 and 10.1 and 10.3 of the Municipal Bylaws No. 3019 of 15 July 2003 (Mondesa CR 39/10/2026). The incident occurred on Saturday morning, 10 October 2026 at about 00:30 at the T-junction of Tiras and Ondjamba Streets in Mondesa, Swakopmund. As per the official Nampol report, it is alleged that police officers were conducting a random stop and search operation when “Pepi” apparently refused to cooperate and released a vicious dog (Mufasa) towards the officers. “He reportedly commanded the dog to attack a police officer by shouting in Afrikaans, ‘Vat hom, Mufasa!’
The dog subsequently chased the officer, who discharged his service firearm and shot the dog before it could catch him,” the report states. The police also shared a graphic video of a prior incident where Mufasa can be seen killing another dog. The circumstances of this incident were however not communicated. According to the suspect, he was on his way to a friend’s tuck shop nearby his home to buy sugar, accompanied by Mufasa on a leash, when the police officers approached him and wanted to frisk him. “I did not argue nor resist but asked to first chain Mufasa to a nearby pole as I had nothing to hide. I also cautioned the police officers not to show any kind of aggression towards me, as the dog might break lose and try to protect me,” he told Namib Times during a telephonic interview after his release.
Petrus further claims that the officer who frisked him did it in an inappropriate manner, also grabbing him on his private parts and they had an argument, which caused Mufasa to break the chain to protect his owner. Regarding the police’s version of the incident, the accused responded that they (police) are lying with reporting that he didn’t comply or chained Mufasa. He did acknowledge the fact that Mufasa killed another dog but questions whether the video shows people hitting Musafa with a panga, explaining that the killed dog came to his house far from its own and Musafa protected its territory. “Mufasa has never bitten or attacked a human being. They thought I was alone and nobody else saw what they did to me.
Do they think they will be able to maintain the lie in court? That’s why police officers should start to wear body cameras,” an adamant Pepi responded. With social media abuzz on the incident, demanding “justice for Mufasa” one person commented on Facebook, noting that they allegedly drove by the incident on their way from work and observed about 10 police officers. Further noting that the accused did nothing wrong and Mufasa was calm. The comment also states that one of the police officers ran into a vehicle which was in front of them.
The 44-year-old Petrus appeared before the Swakopmund Magistrate’s Court on Monday and bail of N$1000 was granted. The matter was postponed until 19 November 2026 with police investigations ongoing. The Namibian Police Force urges members of the public to cooperate with police officers during law enforcement operations and to refrain from actions that may obstruct or endanger officers in the execution of their duties.
According to the Swakopmund Municipality, Council was about to remove the dog from it’s home, as according to the municipality, the dog killed another dog and bit two others. Conditions were set by the municipality along with a warning letter, which was not adhered to.
By Marshallino Beukes
