Cedric Willemse: TikTok’s ‘Mr It Is What It Is’
The man, the myth, the legend
Willemse is now a central figure in a scandal shaking the foundations of Namibia's energy sector - and his once-celebrated brand may soon become a symbol of much more than cocktail flair.
Once celebrated online for his luxury cocktails and flashy persona, Cornelius “Cedric” Willemse - aka “Mr It Is What It Is” and “The Legend of Namibia” - now finds himself at the centre of one of Namibia’s largest corruption probes.
The former supply and logistics manager at Namcor was recently arrested along with eight others in what the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has described as a massive fraud investigation involving the state oil company.
Prosecutors allege that Willemse and his co-accused helped orchestrate the extension of massive unsecured credit facilities to politically connected fuel suppliers, ultimately saddling Namcor with unpaid debts exceeding N$1.6 billion.
While facing these serious charges in court, Willemse maintained the same carefully curated image he projected online - sipping from a bottle of his self-branded “designer water” during his appearance.
But the public is now seeing his signature confidence in a very different light.
The showman behind the bar
Outside the boardroom, Willemse built a vibrant online following of nearly 20 000 TikTok fans by showcasing elaborate cocktail recipes under his signature sign-off, “Happiness lekker, you should try it.” His videos blended upbeat commentary, glossy presentation, and a taste for top-shelf spirits - Johnnie Walker Blue, Tanqueray, Absolut, Amarula, and more.
He offered recipes with names as colourful as his delivery - mixes of vodka, grenadine, hazelnut syrup, espresso, and imported Monin flavours, all served in crystal glassware with garnishes fit for five-star lounges.
His online persona was the embodiment of indulgence, often brushing off suggestions to budget or cut back. “Don’t advise me to save money,” he scoffed in one viral clip. “I’m not the saving type.”
Designer image, designer water
Willemse went so far as to market his own “designer water,” calling it an “elevated hydration experience” to match his luxe cocktail brand. Even as he sat in the dock, observers noted how he maintained this image with deliberate sips from the branded bottle.
But as the court proceedings intensify, this carefully polished lifestyle is now under forensic scrutiny - from flashy videos to flashy assets.
Luxury cars, coastal properties
Investigators are believed to be probing Willemse’s links to several luxury vehicles, including a Jeep Gladiator – apparently once owned by former South African football legend Mark Fish - worth over N$1.4 million, a limited-edition VW GTI, and a Mercedes-Benz GLE 400 SUV valued well above N$2 million.
Willemse also reportedly owns property at Langstrand on Namibia’s coast and in South Africa. He has been living in Windhoek for the past 18 months, following a divorce around four years ago.
Flash vs fallout
Willemse’s legal team is contesting aspects of his arrest, including the alleged seizure of personal items without a warrant. But for now, he remains behind bars as the case against him unfolds.
On social media, many of his old videos have resurfaced - now shared not as aspirational content, but as cautionary snapshots of excess and misjudgement.
Once a social media entertainer and rising executive, Willemse is now a central figure in a scandal shaking the foundations of Namibia’s energy sector - and his once-celebrated brand may soon become a symbol of much more than cocktail flair.
The former supply and logistics manager at Namcor was recently arrested along with eight others in what the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has described as a massive fraud investigation involving the state oil company.
Prosecutors allege that Willemse and his co-accused helped orchestrate the extension of massive unsecured credit facilities to politically connected fuel suppliers, ultimately saddling Namcor with unpaid debts exceeding N$1.6 billion.
While facing these serious charges in court, Willemse maintained the same carefully curated image he projected online - sipping from a bottle of his self-branded “designer water” during his appearance.
But the public is now seeing his signature confidence in a very different light.
The showman behind the bar
Outside the boardroom, Willemse built a vibrant online following of nearly 20 000 TikTok fans by showcasing elaborate cocktail recipes under his signature sign-off, “Happiness lekker, you should try it.” His videos blended upbeat commentary, glossy presentation, and a taste for top-shelf spirits - Johnnie Walker Blue, Tanqueray, Absolut, Amarula, and more.
He offered recipes with names as colourful as his delivery - mixes of vodka, grenadine, hazelnut syrup, espresso, and imported Monin flavours, all served in crystal glassware with garnishes fit for five-star lounges.
His online persona was the embodiment of indulgence, often brushing off suggestions to budget or cut back. “Don’t advise me to save money,” he scoffed in one viral clip. “I’m not the saving type.”
Designer image, designer water
Willemse went so far as to market his own “designer water,” calling it an “elevated hydration experience” to match his luxe cocktail brand. Even as he sat in the dock, observers noted how he maintained this image with deliberate sips from the branded bottle.
But as the court proceedings intensify, this carefully polished lifestyle is now under forensic scrutiny - from flashy videos to flashy assets.
Luxury cars, coastal properties
Investigators are believed to be probing Willemse’s links to several luxury vehicles, including a Jeep Gladiator – apparently once owned by former South African football legend Mark Fish - worth over N$1.4 million, a limited-edition VW GTI, and a Mercedes-Benz GLE 400 SUV valued well above N$2 million.
Willemse also reportedly owns property at Langstrand on Namibia’s coast and in South Africa. He has been living in Windhoek for the past 18 months, following a divorce around four years ago.
Flash vs fallout
Willemse’s legal team is contesting aspects of his arrest, including the alleged seizure of personal items without a warrant. But for now, he remains behind bars as the case against him unfolds.
On social media, many of his old videos have resurfaced - now shared not as aspirational content, but as cautionary snapshots of excess and misjudgement.
Once a social media entertainer and rising executive, Willemse is now a central figure in a scandal shaking the foundations of Namibia’s energy sector - and his once-celebrated brand may soon become a symbol of much more than cocktail flair.
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