Whip-happy Rundu boss fined N$500

Mike du Preez, a Rundu service station owner who was filmed whipping his employees in what he regarded as a game, was fined N$500 after one of his former employees opened a case of assault against him.This was confirmed by Du Preez’s laywer Richard Metcalfe.The videos, which went viral early this month, saw various stakeholders - including political parties and labour unions - condemning Du Preez, who was seen whipping his employees on their buttocks.Rumour had it that the employees were being whipped in exchange for loans; however, Du Preez and the workers claimed it was all a game.Du Preez was forced to publicly apologise, and a day later, news broke that those involved would serve a two-week suspension, which lapsed on 18 March.The workers and Du Preez have since returned to work, with the exception of the employee who opened the case.Business as usualAccording to Metcalfe, everything has returned to normal and the &#039;game&#039; will not be repeated.“There were recommendations made by the labour consultant and these recommendations were implemented.“Mr Du Preez expressed extreme remorse for what was an irresponsible game to be involved in at his premises. It was irresponsible to take part in it and condone it,” the lawyer said.“Apologies were instituted to the ministry of justice, the employees and the Namibian nation. It appears that the employees are all back at work except for the one guy, Mr Willem Durant, who resigned and laid a charge of assault with the police.“Mr Du Preez paid an acknowledgment of debt of N$500, and that is basically what happened. Business continues, everybody is back at work.”Metcalfe said the findings by the labour consultant showed that the &#039;game&#039; was not initiated by Du Preez, but by a former employee who was the manager at the time.‘Learnt our lesson’When Namibian Sun visited the premises this week, one of the employees - who was amongst the suspended group - said they resumed work on 18 March and everything is back to normal.He added that they will no longer participate in what he referred to as a game.“It was all a game and it will not repeat itself. We learnt our lesson,” he said.kenya@namibiansun.com

Whip-happy Rundu boss fined N$500

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-15

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Whip-happy Rundu boss fined N$500

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-15

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