Nekundi orders return of NAC cars 'donated' to execs

Works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi has ordered the Namibia Airports Company (NAC) to recover 19 company vehicles transferred to executives' and managers' names after each beneficiary paid an administrative fee of N$5 000.

The vehicles were originally purchased for N$15 million between 2016 and 2019.

The ministry confirmed to Namibian Sun on Wednesday that its investigation implicates both NAC board members and management officials and that the files will be submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for investigation. Nekundi sacked the board this week, replacing it with a new one.

“The minister has directed the board to recover the vehicles from those who received them. The communication to the chairperson of the board, who is not implicated in this matter, clearly directs the board to recover the vehicles from all individuals to whom they were allocated,” the ministry said.

The ministry did not indicate whether recovery notices have been issued, what deadline the beneficiaries have been given to return the vehicles or what action will be taken against anyone who refuses to comply.

It is also unclear what will happen if any of the vehicles have since been sold, damaged or transferred to third parties.

Files headed to ACC

The ministry said an auditor appointed by Nekundi completed the investigation in April and found that the vehicles had effectively been transferred to management.

“The findings implicate both board members and management officials. The ministry will submit the investigation files to the Anti-Corruption Commission once its internal processes have been concluded,” the ministry said.

The scheme was gradually stopped when Bisey /Uirab became CEO.

The ministry did not explain the nature of the remaining internal processes or when the files would be submitted to the ACC.

The investigation recommended that the NAC board members be removed and that Nekundi consider referring them to the anti-graft body.

It also recommended the dismissal of /Uirab, human resources executive Josephine Soroses and infrastructure development and asset care executive Ralph !Gaoseb over alleged governance, recruitment and procurement failures.

The report further called for disciplinary action against the executive responsible for information technology for alleged reckless and negligent use of NAC funds.

Nekundi did not indicate whether he intends to implement the recommendations against the executives.

Who got what

Documents in Namibian Sun's possession show that 19 executives and managers benefited from the vehicle scheme.

The most expensive vehicle was the Toyota Land Cruiser allocated to /Uirab, which was purchased for N$1.39 million.

Toska Sem received a N$900 000 Mercedes-Benz GLC350, while chief legal adviser Lot Haifidi received a Toyota Land Cruiser VX V8 purchased for N$899 949.

Soroses got a Range Rover Evoque acquired for N$897 500, while Verengai Ruswa received a Jeep Grand Cherokee that cost N$893 210.

Leonard Shipuata and !Gaoseb received Volkswagen Amarok 3.0 TDI vehicles purchased for N$863 358 and N$850 000. The cheapest vehicle on the list was a Toyota Hilux 3.0 allocated to Norman Pule, which was purchased for N$379 296.

The cars were transferred into the beneficiaries’ names between 2023 and 2024.

Nekundi had given the NAC board until 22 April to account for the circumstances under which the transfers took place, but the ministry declined to say whether the deadline was met.

“Regarding the board’s response, the ministry will not comment on matters that remain subject to ongoing internal processes,” it said.

New board ushered in

The interim board, which took office this week, inherits the unresolved vehicle controversy and wider governance concerns raised by the investigation.

It comprises Otniel Podewitz as deputy chairperson, Sophia Kasera, Phillip Iifo, Loide Ekandjo and Natacha Kasera-Kandombo.

Their appointment followed Nekundi’s dismissal of directors Elizabeth Peterson, Lucien Mouton, Matheus //Gowaseb, Carol Williams and Ferdinand Nghiyolwa.

The board was led by businessman Leake Hangala, whose contract expired in May.

The ministry did not say whether the interim directors would be responsible for implementing the recovery directive.

“The interim board, appointed with effect from 4 August 2026, has been mandated to ensure continuity and stability at the Namibia Airports Company while governance structures are reinforced.

“The ministry remains resolute in promoting lawful conduct, sound governance and the responsible management of public resources across all entities under its portfolio,” the ministry said.

Namibian Sun reported this week that the April investigation accused the directors of neglecting their fiduciary and strategic responsibilities and becoming involved in administrative matters, particularly recruitment and the implementation of NAC’s motor-vehicle scheme.

“The only option befitting and most appropriate recommendation is to recommend to the honourable minister to relieve them from their responsibilities,” the report reads.

NAC rejects finding

The ministerial investigation questioned the basis upon which the vehicles were disposed of, finding that the N$5 000 amount was not supported by an accounting policy or recognised accounting standard.

It also alleged that NAC did not obtain Treasury approval before transferring the vehicles.

NAC rejected the findings, maintaining that the N$5 000 represented an administrative transfer fee and was neither the purchase price nor the depreciation value of the vehicles.

“When this policy was in effect, eligible employees who were serving in the management and executive roles could participate in this scheme as part of their employment contract with the company. This was a very attractive incentive to attract competent Namibians to join the company,” /Uirab said.

The company said the cars formed part of contractual employment benefits and were transferred to the beneficiaries after NAC abolished its motor-vehicle scheme in 2021.

NAC also maintained that abolishing the scheme had saved the company N$6 million annually.

“The affected employees had accrued rights to vehicle benefits in terms of the then-applicable policy read with their respective employment contracts and were entitled to new vehicles in terms of the aforesaid policy when their vehicles reached the relevant replacement cycle," /Uirab said.

"The aforesaid contractual benefits were abolished following the board resolution referred to above and its subsequent implementation."

Tricky road

Sources say recovering all vehicles may prove complicated as some beneficiaries no longer work for NAC, while others have left Namibia.

Titus Shuungula, Erastus Shoombe and Norman Pule have since retired. Christian Faure, a South African national, now works at an airport in Johannesburg, while Verengai Ruswa, a Zimbabwean national, has returned to Zimbabwe, working for an airport company there.

Alex Hanghuwo now works as an executive at the National Housing Enterprise (NHE). He said they had paid monthly instalments towards the cars.

“It was long ago. I sold it. We were paying monthly instalments, but I don't want to speak on this issue since I'm no longer employed by NAC,” Hanghuwo told Namibian Sun.

Bernhard Simvula said NAC must pronounce itself first.

“I sold the car long ago, so the company must pronounce itself on the way forward. I'm sure procedures were followed,” he said.

Angela Sibalatani said she wants to see the directive.

“I have not seen that directive. Only when I see it, will I be able to comment on the matter,” she said.

Fabianus Sindimba, Lot Haifidi, Sem Katoma, and Justin Strauss declined to comment.