Fisherman’s return draws mixed reactions
Nkandi not a hero, Naude fumes
The fisherman has been labelled a "coward" and a "loser" for his actions.
The safe return of Lisius Pendukeni Nkandi - who was presumed missing at sea for three days - has been met with mixed reactions.
Initial reports stated that Nkandi abandoned a ship anchored at Cape Cross due to engine failure. The ship, which has been there since the beginning of August and was en route to West Africa, was awaiting assistance.
"While I was trying to take a ship out to West Africa, the engine broke down. We had engineers attempt to fix the issue, but the parts needed were unavailable. I decided to leave the ship and head to Cape Cross, the nearest town, to wait for a tugboat," he explained.
"As the chief safety officer, my responsibility was to ensure the safety of the crew, the ship and the environment. The tugboat was delayed, so I decided to head to shore while the weather was favourable."
Nkandi claimed that it was with the captain's agreement that he decided to head to Cape Cross.
‘God was looking out for me’
"For three days, I communicated with Walvis Bay Radio, but didn’t have a GPS. I relied on my surroundings and the position of other ships to navigate. By the third day, I decided to use my remaining strength to paddle toward shore. Strong waves capsised my craft, throwing me and my belongings into the water.”
Nkandi said when he reached shore, he walked to the nearest road, where he stopped a car. "The driver was an angel to me, picking me up and driving me to safety. I realised how fortunate I was because the road was desolate with no other movement. God was really looking out for me."
He is adamant that he did not abandon the ship, had no food for three days, and relied on his urine to stay hydrated.
‘He abandoned ship’
Sean Naude of the Namibian Marshall Rangers, who first highlighted the plight of the missing fisherman, said he finds it troubling that Nkandi is being hailed as a hero.
"He calls himself a safety officer, but I was with the captain and have all the evidence to the contrary. This man is nothing more than a deserter. He abandoned the ship, took all the supplies and even threatened the captain. When confronted, he brandished a knife. He then recklessly set out into the deep sea on a rubber dinghy and got lost - proving he wasn’t as competent as he claimed. His actions forced us to risk our lives, spending an entire day searching the ocean for him."
He added that the “true heroes” are the two men who were left behind on the ship. “They, along with those of us who risked our lives searching for him, have received no recognition, support or assistance.”
According to Naude, Nkandi should have been arrested the moment he was found. "In my eyes, he is a coward and deserves to face the full extent of the law. What he did was not just reckless - it was dangerous. He abandoned two people at sea without supplies, essentially leaving them to die. He is a loser, and it’s unfortunate that, in times like these, we sometimes glorify those who don’t deserve it while the real heroes are pushed aside."
Taken care of
Meanwhile, according to the previous owner of the vessel, it has been sold to a foreign scrapping company.
"To my knowledge, the vessel’s engine broke down, with the auxiliaries still working. The vessel is anchored securely and is not stranded at all. The new owners already have towing plans in place. The two crew members are being taken care of. They have food, but need additional supplies like water, cigarettes and other essentials. They are being taken care of,” the former owner - who preferred to remain anonymous - said.
Initial reports stated that Nkandi abandoned a ship anchored at Cape Cross due to engine failure. The ship, which has been there since the beginning of August and was en route to West Africa, was awaiting assistance.
"While I was trying to take a ship out to West Africa, the engine broke down. We had engineers attempt to fix the issue, but the parts needed were unavailable. I decided to leave the ship and head to Cape Cross, the nearest town, to wait for a tugboat," he explained.
"As the chief safety officer, my responsibility was to ensure the safety of the crew, the ship and the environment. The tugboat was delayed, so I decided to head to shore while the weather was favourable."
Nkandi claimed that it was with the captain's agreement that he decided to head to Cape Cross.
‘God was looking out for me’
"For three days, I communicated with Walvis Bay Radio, but didn’t have a GPS. I relied on my surroundings and the position of other ships to navigate. By the third day, I decided to use my remaining strength to paddle toward shore. Strong waves capsised my craft, throwing me and my belongings into the water.”
Nkandi said when he reached shore, he walked to the nearest road, where he stopped a car. "The driver was an angel to me, picking me up and driving me to safety. I realised how fortunate I was because the road was desolate with no other movement. God was really looking out for me."
He is adamant that he did not abandon the ship, had no food for three days, and relied on his urine to stay hydrated.
‘He abandoned ship’
Sean Naude of the Namibian Marshall Rangers, who first highlighted the plight of the missing fisherman, said he finds it troubling that Nkandi is being hailed as a hero.
"He calls himself a safety officer, but I was with the captain and have all the evidence to the contrary. This man is nothing more than a deserter. He abandoned the ship, took all the supplies and even threatened the captain. When confronted, he brandished a knife. He then recklessly set out into the deep sea on a rubber dinghy and got lost - proving he wasn’t as competent as he claimed. His actions forced us to risk our lives, spending an entire day searching the ocean for him."
He added that the “true heroes” are the two men who were left behind on the ship. “They, along with those of us who risked our lives searching for him, have received no recognition, support or assistance.”
According to Naude, Nkandi should have been arrested the moment he was found. "In my eyes, he is a coward and deserves to face the full extent of the law. What he did was not just reckless - it was dangerous. He abandoned two people at sea without supplies, essentially leaving them to die. He is a loser, and it’s unfortunate that, in times like these, we sometimes glorify those who don’t deserve it while the real heroes are pushed aside."
Taken care of
Meanwhile, according to the previous owner of the vessel, it has been sold to a foreign scrapping company.
"To my knowledge, the vessel’s engine broke down, with the auxiliaries still working. The vessel is anchored securely and is not stranded at all. The new owners already have towing plans in place. The two crew members are being taken care of. They have food, but need additional supplies like water, cigarettes and other essentials. They are being taken care of,” the former owner - who preferred to remain anonymous - said.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article