Walvis Bay — Impassioned appeals for an end to passion killings have fallen on deaf ears, as another woman became the latest victim of a passion-related murder.

The latest passion killing took place at the coastal town of Walvis Bay where Martha Nakale (32) died yesterday morning after her boyfriend reportedly assaulted her with an iron rod.

Martha - mother of a 6-year-old boy - was allegedly assaulted at the Walvis Bay dumping site, while collecting recycling material with the suspect and several other persons.

It is not yet clear what sparked the brutal assault by the alleged murderer who is currently in police custody.

Martha sustained horrendous blows on the back of her head, which resulted in her death shortly after the assault. A very shocked Abraham Nakale, the brother of the deceased, yesterday told New Era that he found Martha in her shack around four o'clock in the morning while busy preparing to leave for the dumpsite.

"She normally leaves between four and five o'clock in the morning. Everything appeared to be normal when I returned from my night-shift duty," a shocked Abraham said.

According to Abraham, Martha had only recently withdrawn an assault case against the suspect who also assaulted her earlier this year. Abraham said he only received a phone call from another dumpsite collector that Martha had died.

"I am so shocked. It never crossed my mind that my sister would die in such a horrible manner," he said. He apparently went to the Kuisebmond Police Station to get clarity around his sister's death and was told the case was reported at the police station in town.

The Crime Coordinator for the Erongo Region, Ottillie Kashuupulwa, confirmed the incident.

"I cannot say whether he will appear in court today since the investigation is on. This is a terrible situation that we have at hand. Nobody deserves to die in such a manner, while our leaders appeal on a daily basis to refrain from passion killing," Kashuupulwa said.

Also, a couple is currently receiving medical attention in the Walvis Bay State Hospital after an alleged failed passion killing attempt.

It is believed that the boyfriend stabbed his girlfriend several times and then turned the knife on himself, assuming that his partner was dead. While in Oshakati early on Wednesday morning a woman was strangled in a mahangu field allegedly by her boyfriend who bolted from the scene of the crime.