August 26: N$2.5m recipients being pursued
Dismissed officials not off the hook
Defence minister Frans Kapofi says the dismissal of implicated officials does not mark the end of the matter.
Defence minister Frans Kapofi says his ministry is pursuing individuals who received N$2.5 million from military company August 26 Logistics for the purchase of military equipment.
The monies were paid over to supplier Penda Enterprises to enable it to procure military equipment under confidential circumstances, following a request made to August 26 Logistics board chairperson at the time, Major-General Petrus Nathinge.
On 24 May, Penda Shikongo of Penda Enterprises approached Nathinge for a loan.
The company was awarded a contract to carry out classified objectives, but it was in need of N$2.5 million to kick-start the project, he said.
The funds were to be repaid by 31 July, but that has not happened.
As a result, Nathinge was removed as board chairperson and replaced with Kevin Thembikozi.
On their trail
Kapofi said his ministry was on the trail of the individuals who benefitted from the million-dollar payment.
“It is an issue we are dealing with. Actions are being taken and we are pursuing those recipients of the money to recover the money. Since these are related to investigations and probes, it should suffice to say action is being taken,” he said.
The matter has since led to the sacking of August 26 Logistics managing director Salatiel Ntinda, while chief financial officer Karel Nel opted to resign in October after an internal investigation found the two men guilty of the money's disappearance.
Classified mission
In May, Shikongo wrote to Nathinge, requesting N$2.5 million to purchase military equipment.
“I am writing on behalf of Penda Enterprises, a company that trades in military equipment and related merchandise. I have been given [a contract] to carry out a classified objectives, the details [of] which I [will] present to you upon request and which must be kept confidential for security reasons,” he wrote.
Shikongo said he had been advised to reach out to August 26 Logistics.
“I was directed to approach you in confidence to facilitate assistance from August 26,” Shikongo said.
Nathinge reacted positively to the request, authorising Ntinda to release the funds.
“I am hereby, in my capacity as the chairperson of the August 26 Logistics board, authorising you to facilitate the transfer of N$2.5 million into the account of Penda Enterprises,” Nathinge said at the time.
Kapofi unhappy
Kapofi previously lambasted Nathinge’s involvement in the saga.
“I am not happy with what is happening there [August 26 Logistics]. Of course, if you look at Nathinge, he is a very senior member in the Namibia Defence Force and I am being informed about what happened there.
“I am still waiting to hear what exactly transpired. He is well-educated [and] well-trained, so we have to understand what led to this,” Kapofi said in June.
Nathinge has denied any wrongdoing in the matter, insisting that no money has been lost.
“I have not caused the disappearance of any money at August 26 Logistics. No money has disappeared. There is a clean audit report for the past 10 years; we declared dividends to the shareholder for the past nine years. Whoever has proof of the disappearance of money must come forward. There is nothing like that,” he said.
The monies were paid over to supplier Penda Enterprises to enable it to procure military equipment under confidential circumstances, following a request made to August 26 Logistics board chairperson at the time, Major-General Petrus Nathinge.
On 24 May, Penda Shikongo of Penda Enterprises approached Nathinge for a loan.
The company was awarded a contract to carry out classified objectives, but it was in need of N$2.5 million to kick-start the project, he said.
The funds were to be repaid by 31 July, but that has not happened.
As a result, Nathinge was removed as board chairperson and replaced with Kevin Thembikozi.
On their trail
Kapofi said his ministry was on the trail of the individuals who benefitted from the million-dollar payment.
“It is an issue we are dealing with. Actions are being taken and we are pursuing those recipients of the money to recover the money. Since these are related to investigations and probes, it should suffice to say action is being taken,” he said.
The matter has since led to the sacking of August 26 Logistics managing director Salatiel Ntinda, while chief financial officer Karel Nel opted to resign in October after an internal investigation found the two men guilty of the money's disappearance.
Classified mission
In May, Shikongo wrote to Nathinge, requesting N$2.5 million to purchase military equipment.
“I am writing on behalf of Penda Enterprises, a company that trades in military equipment and related merchandise. I have been given [a contract] to carry out a classified objectives, the details [of] which I [will] present to you upon request and which must be kept confidential for security reasons,” he wrote.
Shikongo said he had been advised to reach out to August 26 Logistics.
“I was directed to approach you in confidence to facilitate assistance from August 26,” Shikongo said.
Nathinge reacted positively to the request, authorising Ntinda to release the funds.
“I am hereby, in my capacity as the chairperson of the August 26 Logistics board, authorising you to facilitate the transfer of N$2.5 million into the account of Penda Enterprises,” Nathinge said at the time.
Kapofi unhappy
Kapofi previously lambasted Nathinge’s involvement in the saga.
“I am not happy with what is happening there [August 26 Logistics]. Of course, if you look at Nathinge, he is a very senior member in the Namibia Defence Force and I am being informed about what happened there.
“I am still waiting to hear what exactly transpired. He is well-educated [and] well-trained, so we have to understand what led to this,” Kapofi said in June.
Nathinge has denied any wrongdoing in the matter, insisting that no money has been lost.
“I have not caused the disappearance of any money at August 26 Logistics. No money has disappeared. There is a clean audit report for the past 10 years; we declared dividends to the shareholder for the past nine years. Whoever has proof of the disappearance of money must come forward. There is nothing like that,” he said.
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