A security guard employed by Namibia Protection Services (NPS) who last week Thursday stabbed a female student at the Polytechnic of Namibia has been arrested.

The incident which sent shock waves among staff and students who are writing examinations allegedly happened when the victim, Selma Haludilu, a fourth year accounting student, asked why the security guard was hostile towards her male friend who was using his cellphone in the library.

The security guard, Gerson Mungungu, is not an employee of the Polytechnic of Namibia, since this function has been outsourced to Namibia Protection Services, which is his employer.

According to the rules of the Polytechnic those caught using a cellphone while in the library are liable to pay a spot fine of N$135. It is alleged that a quarrel ensued between Haludilu and the guard. Mungungu dragged her outside and stabbed her with a knife in full view of other students, it is alleged.

Haludilu apparently sustained serious injuries to her right eye, and also suffered a blow to her head. The female student opened a case of assault with the Namibian police.

Kaitira Kandjii, Polytechnic Director of Marketing and Communications, confirmed the incident saying they are aware of the unfortunate and regrettable incident. He said the incident was reported to Polytechnic campus control officers shortly after it occurred.

Kandjii added that the Polytechnic's Dean of Students, Frieda Shimbuli, and the Vice-Rector for Administration and Finance, Dr Gert Günzel, were both informed about the incident by the director of the institution's Auxiliary Services Unit, Calicious Nawa.

"Mr Mungungu was removed from the Polytechic campus immediately after the incident occurred and was also apprehended by the police. He has not been allowed back onto the Polytechnic campus, and the institution has reported the matter to Namibia Protection Services," Kandjii said yesterday.

The Polytechnic strongly condemned any form of gender-based violence, including any form of violence against its student community, women and children.

Kandjii assured the student community, staff and the general public that the Polytechnic does not take such instances lightly and is committed to ensuring the safety of all those on its premises.

The latest incident of violence comes while students are still in mourning and reeling from the shock of the death of a fellow student who became the latest victim of a soured love affair after her ex-boyfriend allegedly strangled her to death.

It is alleged that Elizabeth Tuwilika Ekandjo (21) a fourth year IT student, broke off her love relationship with her boyfriend, the son of a prominent businessman.

The spurned suspect whose name is known to New Era, but cannot be divulged because he is yet to be arraigned in court, apparently could not stomach the loss of his ex-lover and decided to strangle her with a tie.