HAMUKOTO Pohamba, President Hifikepunye Pohamba’s son, brushed the wrong side of the law and was arrested and charged with drunken driving in Windhoek on April 30.
Hamukoto, who is Assistant to the Permanent Secretary for Veterans’ Affairs, William Amagulu, was arrested along the bridge linking Windhoek Central Business District and Katutura, on Independence Avenue at around 04h00 in the morning.

He was detained at the Windhoek Police Station until the following day at 15h00 when he was released to appear in court on Tuesday May 6 after the long Worker’s Day and Cassinga Day holidays.
At the Windhoek Police Station, eyewitnesses were not amused when Hamukoto personally introduced himself to the police as the President’s son, hoping that this would help him to escape the jaws of the law. “You can’t arrest me, I am the president’s son,” Hamukoto is alleged to have protested before he was thrown into the cells.
A case number CR 1241/04/2008; and cell number 716/04/2008, were registered respectively.
Windhoek Station Commander, Chief Inspector, Robert Sanjahi, confirmed Hamukoto’s arrest and that he was the President’s son.
On May 6, Hamukoto appeared at the Windhoek Magistrate Court on Lüderitz Street before Magistrate, Elsie Schickerling. The State Prosecutor is Linus Samaria, and a court case number WHK-CRM-12223/2008 was registered.
In court, Magistrate Schickerling told Hamukoto that he is facing a charge of drunken driving, and released him on bail of N$1,000. The case was postponed to July 1 at 09h00.
“In case of failure to appear in court a warrant of arrest may be issued against you and your bail will be provisionally cancelled and the bail money provisionally forfeited to the State,” Schickerling warned.
The court record states that in his first defence, Hamukoto represented himself against the State, and was advised of his right to legal representation, “You have the right to be assisted by a lawyer during court proceedings. You have the choice of conducting your own defence without the assistance of a legal representative.”
When contacted for comment, Hamukoto admitted that he had brushed the law the wrong way, saying that he is only human but the fact that he is the President’s son has made people blow the issue out of proportion.
“It was a normal accident that occurred. But, it’s very unfortunate that being who I am (the President’s son) it becomes another issue. We are also human beings and these accidents happen to others as well,” Hamukoto said.