Conflicting Stories on \'Rescued Fisherman\'

Gemengde gevoelens en reaksies het na vore gekom ná die terugkeer van Lisius Pendukeni Nkandi, wat vermoedelik drie dae lank op see vermis was.

Volgens die aanvanklike verslae het Nkandi \'n skip wat by Cape Cross geanker was weens enjinonderbreking, verlaat. Die skip, wat sedert begin Augustus daar is, het glo gewag op bystand van sy nuwe eienaar aangesien dit na Wes-Afrika onderweg was.

\"Terwyl ek probeer het om \'n skip na Wes-Afrika te neem, het die enjin onklaar geraak. Om te verhoed dat die skip grond, moes ek \'n anker gooi om dit stil te hou. Ons het ingenieurs gehad wat probeer het om die probleem op te los, maar die onderdele was nodig. was nie beskikbaar nie omdat die stelsel \'n ouer model is Aangesien die herstelwerk nie gedoen kon word nie, het ek besluit om die skip te verlaat en na Cape Cross, die naaste dorp, te gaan om vir \'n sleepboot te wag,” het Nkandi verduidelik.

Hy het bygevoeg dat terwyl hy gewag het, hy voortdurende kommunikasie met die sleepbootbemanning gehad het.





\"While I was trying to take a ship out to West Africa, the engine broke down. To prevent the ship from grounding, I had to throw an anchor to keep it stationary. We had engineers attempt to fix the issue, but the parts needed were unavailable because the system is an older model. Since the repairs couldn\'t be made, I decided to leave the ship and head to Cape Cross, the nearest town, to wait for a tugboat,\" Nkandi explained.

He added that while waiting, he had ongoing communication with the tugboat crew.



\"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 favorable. Coastal weather, particularly near the Benguela current, can be unpredictable, with winds and currents posing significant challenges.\"

Nkandi further explained that it was with the captain\'s agreement that he decided to head to Cape Cross.

\"On my way to Cape Cross, one of the pedals on my craft broke. I had spare handles and was able to fix it, but I was constantly drifting away from shore due to strong winds and currents. I got wet from the water coming in, but I stayed calm and focused. I kept believing that behind the darkness, there would be light.\"

\"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. On the second day, I encountered a container ship but was unable to get assistance from them. I continued drifting westward, and by the third day, I decided to use my remaining strength to paddle toward shore. Eventually, I came across a wrecked ship from a distance. I communicated my position to Walvis Bay Radio. As I neared the shore, strong waves capsized my craft, throwing me and my belongings into the water. I managed to recover my craft and paddled it to shore, using the wind to help me.\"

Nkandi said that when he reached shore, he walked to the nearest road, where he encountered a car.

\"The driver was an angel to me, picking me up and driving me to safety. I realized 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 hydrate himself.

Sean Naude, marine captain and lifeguard, who first highlighted the plight of the missing fisherman, stated, in a voice note, that he finds it troubling that this individual 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. I’ve conducted an interview with the captain, gathered photos, data—everything. 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, showing no concern for the safety of himself or others. 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, especially with Cape Cross just nearby. His actions forced us to risk our lives, spending an entire day—from early morning until late afternoon—searching the ocean for him.\"

Naude said it is infuriating that Nkandi is being celebrated as a hero when, in reality, he should be court-martialed, reprimanded, and stripped of his credentials.

\"The true heroes are the two men who were left behind on the ship he abandoned. They, along with those of us who risked our lives searching for him, have received no recognition, support, or assistance. We’re still here at Cape Cross, preparing to deliver supplies to those in need.\"

He stated that when he spoke to the captain on Thursday morning, they were without water.

\"Yet, this man is being glorified as a hero, a warrior, and a soldier. I see things differently, and once I’ve revealed the truth, the people can judge for themselves. Let him enjoy his moment in the limelight while we continue to ensure that the real victims in this situation are taken care of.\"

Naude added that Nkandi should have been arrested the moment he was found.

\"Instead, he was met with open arms, and journalists have been portraying him as some kind of hero, spreading misinformation and confusing the public. The truth is, 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. In my eyes, 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.\"

\"But let me be clear: this isn’t about us. We’re not here for money, heroism, publicity, or anything of the sort. We’re here to ensure that the real victims in this situation are taken care of, while others enjoy their moment of undeserved limelight.\"

On the other hand, information obtained from the previous owner of the vessel states that the vessel 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. We arranged a launch to deliver new supplies to them this morning (Thursday). They have food on board the vessel but need additional supplies like water, cigarettes, and other essentials. They are being taken care of.\"