Two in-laws of the Moongo family are at each other’s throats over the prospect of receiving financial benefits due to be paid out to former members of the South African colonial troops.

The late Oshakati City Football Club player, Tostao, who died of natural causes in 2004, joined the South African Police in the early 1980’s and continued serving until 2000 in the Namibian police. He married Saara Nashilongo-Moongo on 26 February 1997 and they have a 14-year old boy. Triggered by the recent registration of ex-Koevoet, SWATF, SADF, SAP and other former members of the armed forces of the South African occupation, Saara and her in-law, Ronnie Haiduwa Moongo, have been exchanging nasty text messages over who should claim the money of the late Veijo Tostao Moongo.  “My brother’s money should be paid to our mother. Don’t think we, the family of Tostao, have forgotten what you have done to our brother. You chased him out of the house. Tostao was staying at Lala House before he died,” said Ronnie Haiduwa in one of the text messages sent to the widow. The widow, Saara, is furious about the accusations that she chased her late husband out of the house, claiming that she did the best she could to keep him healthy and alive. “Tostao died in my hands. I spent close to N$15 000 for his funeral and other related expenses, while Haiduwa did not contribute anything to the upkeep and burial of his brother. I want to know if he is speaking on behalf of the family or in his personal capacity. I am the legitimate surviving spouse of the deceased and I have every right to inherit anything from him,” she insisted. Approached for comment, Haiduwa, who is an RDP councilor on Oshakati Town Council, alleged that his sister-in-law, Saara, also known as Kambaatima, is fond of squandering money on gambling and alcohol. She does not even care about the grave of her late husband, which has been vandalised beyond recognition, he claimed. “I am speaking on behalf of the family, since I am the guardian. If the money happens to be paid out, ten percent should go to the gravestone, another ten percent to my mother and the rest should be invested in a trust for the children. I have no personal interest in the money, but I am doing it for the best interests of the children, because tomorrow they may ask what happened to their father’s money,” Haiduwa explained.