NYC tear gas chaos leaves delegates gasping

National Youth Council (NYC) affiliates are still nursing tear gas-related injuries a week after the council’s general assembly at Swakopmund violently derailed, leaving nine delegates hurt.

Some say they are now dealing with damaged muscle tissue and breathing problems.

The council’s general assembly aimed to elect a new executive chairperson and board with former Namibia National Students’ Organisation presidents Esther Simon and Simon Taapopi contesting for the executive chairperson position.

NYC affiliate Refilwe ‘Kiki’ Kaposambo is wearing an arm sling after doctors found severe muscle and tissue injuries in her right arm. She is also undergoing further tests after the incident allegedly worsened her asthma.

“I think I was the first person to get an asthma attack when they switched off the lights because I was really traumatised. Everything happened so fast. My friend was crying. Everything was just traumatic,” she says.