Berseba HR officer denies allegations of nepotism, demands proof
Aurelia AfrikanerWindhoek
Community activist George Vries has accused the Berseba Village Council’s human resources officer Tobias Ndeshipanda Paulus of nepotism and misuse of council funds, all of which have been categorically refuted.
Vries alleges that Paulus influenced the appointment of Paulus Shihepo as a council handyman and that he allegedly made inappropriate remarks to residents who questioned the hire.
The claims surfaced on social media, where Vries also insinuated a family link between Paulus and the successful candidate.
Paulus has firmly denied all allegations, saying the CEO oversees the hiring process.
In a written response seen by Namibian Sun, Paulus said the handyman post was publicly advertised earlier this year and 21 applications were received, with six candidates subsequently shortlisted.
Interviews, he added, were conducted in the presence of a union representative and a local authority councillor, after which the council resolved to appoint Shihepo.
“If there were any irregularities, the councillor present should have raised concerns before the appointment,” Paulus wrote.
He further said he had previously recommended promoting a general worker with a driver’s licence into the role to save time and costs, but the council opted for an open advertisement.
Paulus also denied purchasing a personal vehicle with council funds and urged Vries to report any evidence to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) or the Namibian Police.
No proof provided
Paulus dismissed other allegations made against him by Vries on social media as well, inviting him to provide proof.
Addressing a separate allegation that Shihepo stayed at his house during interviews, Paulus said Shihepo travelled from Tses with two other candidates and returned the same day.
He acknowledged giving Shihepo a lift later, after meeting him in Tses while en route to Ruacana on personal business, but argued that offering transport is not evidence of a family relationship.
Let the ACC do a probe
Paulus also accused Vries of misleading the public by swapping Shihepo’s names online to suggest kinship.
Paulus said he welcomes verification, proposing checks of mobile records or even family confirmations “to establish any relationship with the newly appointed handyman and secretary.”
According to Paulus, Shihepo reported for duty on 27 August 2025 but was later instructed by CEO Ivan Vries not to resume work pending the matter’s referral to the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development.
George Vries has publicly demanded that the appointment be revoked and that someone based around Berseba be hired instead.
Paulus reiterated that he is comfortable with an ACC investigation, emphasising that HR does not do appointments and that the process followed council-approved procedures.
He concluded that acts of courtesy are being mischaracterised as corruption.
“If giving Shihepo a lift means he is my brother, then George Vries himself must also be related to me since I once gave him a lift to Windhoek on 27 July.”
Community activist George Vries has accused the Berseba Village Council’s human resources officer Tobias Ndeshipanda Paulus of nepotism and misuse of council funds, all of which have been categorically refuted.
Vries alleges that Paulus influenced the appointment of Paulus Shihepo as a council handyman and that he allegedly made inappropriate remarks to residents who questioned the hire.
The claims surfaced on social media, where Vries also insinuated a family link between Paulus and the successful candidate.
Paulus has firmly denied all allegations, saying the CEO oversees the hiring process.
In a written response seen by Namibian Sun, Paulus said the handyman post was publicly advertised earlier this year and 21 applications were received, with six candidates subsequently shortlisted.
Interviews, he added, were conducted in the presence of a union representative and a local authority councillor, after which the council resolved to appoint Shihepo.
“If there were any irregularities, the councillor present should have raised concerns before the appointment,” Paulus wrote.
He further said he had previously recommended promoting a general worker with a driver’s licence into the role to save time and costs, but the council opted for an open advertisement.
Paulus also denied purchasing a personal vehicle with council funds and urged Vries to report any evidence to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) or the Namibian Police.
No proof provided
Paulus dismissed other allegations made against him by Vries on social media as well, inviting him to provide proof.
Addressing a separate allegation that Shihepo stayed at his house during interviews, Paulus said Shihepo travelled from Tses with two other candidates and returned the same day.
He acknowledged giving Shihepo a lift later, after meeting him in Tses while en route to Ruacana on personal business, but argued that offering transport is not evidence of a family relationship.
Let the ACC do a probe
Paulus also accused Vries of misleading the public by swapping Shihepo’s names online to suggest kinship.
Paulus said he welcomes verification, proposing checks of mobile records or even family confirmations “to establish any relationship with the newly appointed handyman and secretary.”
According to Paulus, Shihepo reported for duty on 27 August 2025 but was later instructed by CEO Ivan Vries not to resume work pending the matter’s referral to the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development.
George Vries has publicly demanded that the appointment be revoked and that someone based around Berseba be hired instead.
Paulus reiterated that he is comfortable with an ACC investigation, emphasising that HR does not do appointments and that the process followed council-approved procedures.
He concluded that acts of courtesy are being mischaracterised as corruption.
“If giving Shihepo a lift means he is my brother, then George Vries himself must also be related to me since I once gave him a lift to Windhoek on 27 July.”
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