Sankwasa ends Otjiwarongo engineer's two-year suspension

Urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa has ordered the Otjiwarongo municipality to immediately reinstate deputy town engineer Timothy Ggita after he spent nearly two years on precautionary suspension on full pay.

Sankwasa said the prolonged suspension resulted in the council effectively paying two people for one job.

Speaking after a meeting with councillors and municipal officials on Monday, Sankwasa said Ggita, who also serves as manager of technical services, had been on suspension for one year and 10 months without sufficient justification.

"We found that, and agreed, that there is no basis for keeping this person on suspension," Sankwasa said.

"When a person is on suspension, he's getting full salary, but the job is not being done, so council must find someone to do that job. So we are paying two salaries for one job," the minister said.

Sankwasa explained that a precautionary suspension is intended to allow investigations into allegations against an employee, while a punitive suspension can only follow a disciplinary process in which the employee has been found guilty.

"The question is, what does the law say?" Sankwasa asked, arguing that the suspension had exceeded what was reasonable under the circumstances.

Formal documentation pending

Otjiwarongo Municipality chief executive officer Mberipura Hifitikeko confirmed to Namibian Sun last week that Ggita had been instructed to return to work in compliance with the minister's directive.

"Yes, the deputy town engineer was requested to commence work today as per the minister's order," Hifitikeko said on Tuesday.

Otjiwarongo mayor Leonard Simushi on Wednesday added that although Ggita had already returned to the office, he had not yet received the municipality's formal reinstatement letter.

The mayor said the suspension stemmed from allegations that Ggita had acted "unprocedurally" but declined to elaborate further as the matter predated his tenure.

Namibian Sun contacted Ggita for comment on Wednesday, but he had not responded by the time of publication.

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