WINDHOEK- The !Xoo Traditional Authority leader, Chief Sophia Jacobs, who was based at Corridor 17 in the Aminuis Constituency, has died after a short illness.
It is reported that Chief Jacobs who was in her 40s died last week Thursday evening at around 20h00 after complaining of chest pains.
According to Omaheke Regional Governor, Festus Ueitele, who also confirmed the chief’s death, Jacobs complained of chest pains that Thursday and was taken to Aranos clinic for treatment where she was treated and returned home after treatment.
“She was apparently with her senior councillors at her house when she returned from Aranos clinic and they prayed for her. They then left her at her house as it was getting late. The chief’s driver apparently saw the chief in the sitting room and then she just collapsed. He tried to help her and he called the police. She was declared dead when she arrived at the clinic,” Ueitele told New Era yesterday.
During her leadership, Jacobs who worked very closely with the Deputy Prime Minister Marco Hausiku’s office in addressing the plight of her community, had time and again advocated for access to medical services, because the nearest clinic is some 30km away and it is difficult to reach the clinic because of the scarcity of transport at the rural settlement.
Further, during her time as chief, she continued to fight alcohol abuse among her people by appealing to government to demolish illegal shebeens to mitigate alcohol abuse among young people at the settlement. The high rate of alcohol abuse at the settlement in the Omaheke Region has led to an escalation in the number of children dropping out of school.
When New Era visited her community last year, the late chief had said the mushrooming of illegal shebeens would also lead to escalating HIV prevalence in the area.
Alcohol abuse in the small community is rife among the youth due to the high school dropout rate. The governor described the late chief as a brave woman who left no stone unturned in ensuring the needs of her community were met.
“She fought to uplift the lives of the San community in Corridor 17. If she wanted something done, she would’t rest until she got help. She was never afraid to knock at doors when she needed help. The chief has succeeded in making sure that government built a school for the San community in Corridor 17. She also managed to make sure government built her a house and gave her and her people a resettlement farm,” he narrated. He added that the chief was hard-working and a dedicated leader.
“She left a legacy. We have lost a brave woman. Her loss is not just felt by her community but the entire Omaheke Region and Namibia at large.
Three months ago we celebrated the sixth anniversary for the !Xoo Traditional Authority since its recognition as a traditional authority by government,” Ueitele said.
The chief will be laid to rest on November 8 at Corridor 17 where her late father who was senior chief lies buried.
Last year, Hausiku launched the construction phase of a new primary school at Corridor 17, which will cater mainly for the children from marginalised communities living in the area. Corridor 17 is located some 200km south of Gobabis in the Aminuis constituency in the Omaheke Region.