Grootfontein hits brakes on suspended CEO’s salary
Pressure piles on Sinvula
The unprecedented move is meant to compel the CEO, who is allegedly ducking his disciplinary hearing, to avail himself for the process.
As month-end draws closer, there will be no bank alert for suspended Grootfontein CEO Kisco Sinvula’s salary after council on Tuesday passed a resolution to remove him from its payroll until his disciplinary process concludes.
This was confirmed by municipality chairperson Elizabeth Kastoor, who yesterday told Namibian Sun that the majority of the councillors were in favour of amending Sinvula’s suspension conditions, which saw him losing his N$80 000 monthly salary.
“Yes, there was a special council meeting on Tuesday afternoon and a resolution was passed for him not to continue getting his salary,” she said.
Sinvula was last week notified by Grootfontein mayor Talitha Garises about the planned meeting.
According to her, Sinvula’s actions have led to unnecessary court battles which have seen the council having to defend itself in various courts - a costly exercise that has drained the municipality’s coffers.
It is also alleged that Sinvula is in possession of the municipality’s CEO stamp, and that the council does not know to what extent he has used it - or continues to use it - and the official laptop.
Apply pressure
Namibian Sun understands that the bottom line on the decision to stop paying Sinvula’s salary is to pressure him into appearing before a disciplinary committee. This after he failed to show up to a disciplinary hearing last week.
The feeling is that Sinvula, who is currently on suspension after he was charged with 30 counts of misconduct, would continue stalling the disciplinary process as long as his salary continues to be paid.
It is further alleged that with his salary, he is able to afford lawyers who will continue to fight council in various courts in an attempt to avoid appearing before the disciplinary committee.
Kisco speaks out
Prior to Tuesday’s special council meeting, Sinvula was given until Monday to argue why his salary should not be discontinued.
He complied with that request through his lawyer, Veiko Alexander, who wrote a letter to council on 19 September maintaining that his client was suspended illegally.
“The fact that the council is considering stopping his salary suggests that the council has decided to impose a punishment on my client before the charges against him have been adjudicated. In this regard, we specifically point out that my client remains an employee of the council and must be treated fairly and reasonably, in accordance with the law,” the letter read.
“The pathetic argument that the charges are serious is neither here nor there. It is supposed to be on the basis of these allegations that my client was unlawfully suspended in the first place; therefore, if the allegations were of such serious nature, then one would expect the decision to suspend my client without pay to have been taken at the time of suspension,” Alexander wrote.
“This is clearly to cripple my client financially in order to ensure that he is unable to afford legal representation.”
Illegal contracts
Garises said some contracts Sinvula entered into on behalf of the council have led to the current legal battle.
“On 25 March 2022, while having already being notified of your suspension but prior to the change of signatories, you authorised a payment to a contractor, one Otjomuise Construction CC, in the amount N$457 137 57.
“Not only were you on suspension at the time, but [that] particular contract and payment was not budgeted for and forms part of the contracts awarded under your tenure which have led to disciplinary charges being laid against you.
“You have to date - despite numerous requests - refused to return the council laptop and council stamp for the office of the CEO and have proceeded during your suspension to use the stamp to write letters purportedly on behalf of the office of the CEO; one being a letter authored on 20 April addressed to Kangueehi and Kavendji Incorporated,” she wrote.
“The charges you are facing are very serious - including but not limited to charges emanating from an unlawful contract with one Frontier Multi Industries CC from which council is now embattled in a lawsuit, [and] from which the said contractor is claiming payment of about N$400 000 per month for cleaning the town.”
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This was confirmed by municipality chairperson Elizabeth Kastoor, who yesterday told Namibian Sun that the majority of the councillors were in favour of amending Sinvula’s suspension conditions, which saw him losing his N$80 000 monthly salary.
“Yes, there was a special council meeting on Tuesday afternoon and a resolution was passed for him not to continue getting his salary,” she said.
Sinvula was last week notified by Grootfontein mayor Talitha Garises about the planned meeting.
According to her, Sinvula’s actions have led to unnecessary court battles which have seen the council having to defend itself in various courts - a costly exercise that has drained the municipality’s coffers.
It is also alleged that Sinvula is in possession of the municipality’s CEO stamp, and that the council does not know to what extent he has used it - or continues to use it - and the official laptop.
Apply pressure
Namibian Sun understands that the bottom line on the decision to stop paying Sinvula’s salary is to pressure him into appearing before a disciplinary committee. This after he failed to show up to a disciplinary hearing last week.
The feeling is that Sinvula, who is currently on suspension after he was charged with 30 counts of misconduct, would continue stalling the disciplinary process as long as his salary continues to be paid.
It is further alleged that with his salary, he is able to afford lawyers who will continue to fight council in various courts in an attempt to avoid appearing before the disciplinary committee.
Kisco speaks out
Prior to Tuesday’s special council meeting, Sinvula was given until Monday to argue why his salary should not be discontinued.
He complied with that request through his lawyer, Veiko Alexander, who wrote a letter to council on 19 September maintaining that his client was suspended illegally.
“The fact that the council is considering stopping his salary suggests that the council has decided to impose a punishment on my client before the charges against him have been adjudicated. In this regard, we specifically point out that my client remains an employee of the council and must be treated fairly and reasonably, in accordance with the law,” the letter read.
“The pathetic argument that the charges are serious is neither here nor there. It is supposed to be on the basis of these allegations that my client was unlawfully suspended in the first place; therefore, if the allegations were of such serious nature, then one would expect the decision to suspend my client without pay to have been taken at the time of suspension,” Alexander wrote.
“This is clearly to cripple my client financially in order to ensure that he is unable to afford legal representation.”
Illegal contracts
Garises said some contracts Sinvula entered into on behalf of the council have led to the current legal battle.
“On 25 March 2022, while having already being notified of your suspension but prior to the change of signatories, you authorised a payment to a contractor, one Otjomuise Construction CC, in the amount N$457 137 57.
“Not only were you on suspension at the time, but [that] particular contract and payment was not budgeted for and forms part of the contracts awarded under your tenure which have led to disciplinary charges being laid against you.
“You have to date - despite numerous requests - refused to return the council laptop and council stamp for the office of the CEO and have proceeded during your suspension to use the stamp to write letters purportedly on behalf of the office of the CEO; one being a letter authored on 20 April addressed to Kangueehi and Kavendji Incorporated,” she wrote.
“The charges you are facing are very serious - including but not limited to charges emanating from an unlawful contract with one Frontier Multi Industries CC from which council is now embattled in a lawsuit, [and] from which the said contractor is claiming payment of about N$400 000 per month for cleaning the town.”
[email protected]
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