“‘Hands off Shark Island’

2026-04-14 BY CORRESPONDENT

Dalene Kooper

LÜDERITZ – The Nama Traditional Leaders Association (NTLA) is calling on the government to block the mooted industrial activities on Shark Island in Lüderitz.

The NTLA held the annual genocide remembrance week at Lüderitz last week in honour of the genocide victims.

The theme for this year’s event, ‘Hands off Shark Island’, is calling on the government to halt any industrial activity plans.

[…]

The call comes amid increasing economic activity in the //Kharas region, including proposed oil and gas projects as well as green hydrogen developments.

[…]

[NTLA coordinator Maboss] Ortman said that Shark Island holds deep historical and cultural significance to the Nama people as one of the sites where Nama and Herero people suffered and perished during the 1904-1908 genocide under German colonial rule.

“Shark Island is a living cemetery. People were horrifically killed there. Many were decapitated and others died from forced labour, hunger and exposure to harsh weather conditions,” he said.

[…]

“Most of them never received proper burials. Their remains lie beneath the rocks or were thrown into the ocean. That is why we say this place must be treated with the utmost respect,” he emphasised.

NTLA argues that industrial activity, which brings noise, movement and disruption, is a disturbance to the sanctity of the site.

[…]

“Stop and engage the Nama and Ovaherero people. Sit down and listen to what the affected communities want. Respect our culture and our history,” the coordinator said.

[…]

–dkooper@nepc.com.na”

Editor’s note:

On 12 April 1893 the German Schutztruppe under commander Curt von Francois attacked Hornkranz / Hoornkrans west of Rehoboth. It was the settlement of Oorlam-Nama Kaptein Hendrik Witbooi, who refused to accept German supremacy by signing a ‘Schutzvertrag’ (Protection Treaty). The German soldiers killed about 80 Witbooi Naman including dozens of women and children.

• Full report “‘Hands off Shark Island'” on the website of the New Era (last checked in April 2026).

• See also the announcement of the event “Annual Genocide Memorial Walk 2026” in the ‘Events’ section of this website.

• See also the report “Call for port extension to be halted as genocide remains are found on Shark Island” from 8 May 2024 by The Namibian in the ‘Media Reports’ section of this website.

• See also the announcement by the National Heritage Council on Shark Island being declared a Heritage site in the ‘Primary Sources’ section of this website.

• See also the articles “1904 December 9 – Order to erect concentration camps” and “1908 May 28 – Concentration camps officially dissolved” in the ‘Namibia’s Past’ section of this website.