Silas-!Garas’ NYC job unapproved by PSC
Ministry of justice official Beverly Silas-!Garas is under scrutiny for taking on a second job as acting executive chairperson of the National Youth Council (NYC), earning N$22 000 monthly, without approval from the Public Service Commission (PSC).
The ministry confirmed that Silas-!Garas’ request to join the NYC was processed internally and forwarded to the PSC. However, the Namibian Sun understands that the commission – technically her appointing authority – has yet to endorse the arrangement.
Silas-!Garas, who serves in the directorate of legal services in the ministry of justice, said she had applied for permission to receive external remuneration – a request she claims was approved by the ministry’s executive director, pending PSC recommendation.
“I applied to receive remuneration outside of the public service framework... I take unpaid leave for the days I work at NYC, and I pay those days back,” she told Namibian Sun.
However, critics argue that her justification is insufficient given the absence of formal PSC approval for the role and continued payments.
Although the NYC executive chairpersonship is a full-time position, an internal arrangement seen by the Namibian Sun outlines that Silas-!Garas works two days per week at the NYC, takes unpaid leave for those days, and commits to ensuring neither role is compromised. She has also pledged to work overtime without additional pay.
“Although the executive chairperson position is full-time, the work can be done remotely... The workload does not necessitate the position being considered full-time,” she explained.
Silas-!Garas previously served on the NYC board from November 2021 to December 2024. In December, youth minister Agnes Tjongarero dissolved the board over governance concerns and promptly reappointed her as interim director and executive chairperson.
Justice ministry executive director Nghidinua Daniel confirmed that Silas-!Garas’ request to engage in remunerated external work was submitted to the PSC earlier this year, but a final decision is still pending.
“The ministry did not second Mrs Silas-!Garas to the NYC. However, the ministry is aware that she was appointed as interim [executive] chairperson...
"Her request was processed internally and forwarded to the PSC,” Daniel said, adding that the ministry could not comment on payments made to her by the NYC.
This clarification is significant, as public service regulations prohibit civil servants from receiving dual remuneration without PSC authorisation.
The PSC is yet to finalise her appointment, almost six months after she started work at the NYC.
Financial guidelines
Meanwhile, Erastus Haitengela, executive director of youth and sport, raised broader concerns about NYC’s financial management, cautioning against the misuse of public funds for “unauthorised” and “unapproved” purposes.
“The issue of NYC is a very serious matter... I issued financial guidelines last year to ensure NYC management complies with treasury instructions,” he said.
While he acknowledged that board-related matters fall under ministerial jurisdiction, Haitengela stressed that governance compliance remains a key concern.
In a letter dated 2 June 2025, NYC board member Sharonice Busch questioned the legality of Silas-!Garas’s acting appointment and the legitimacy of her remuneration.
“Neither the National Youth Council Act nor the Public Enterprises Governance Act makes provision for an acting executive chairperson... If true, payment of any acting allowance is in violation of NYC’s Human Resources Policy,” Busch wrote.
According to that policy, an acting allowance may only be paid if the individual serves in the acting role for 30 consecutive days, among other requirements.
In her response dated 4 June, Silas-!Garas reiterated that her arrangement had internal approval and that she often works overtime, without administrative support, to meet the demands of the role.
The ministry confirmed that Silas-!Garas’ request to join the NYC was processed internally and forwarded to the PSC. However, the Namibian Sun understands that the commission – technically her appointing authority – has yet to endorse the arrangement.
Silas-!Garas, who serves in the directorate of legal services in the ministry of justice, said she had applied for permission to receive external remuneration – a request she claims was approved by the ministry’s executive director, pending PSC recommendation.
“I applied to receive remuneration outside of the public service framework... I take unpaid leave for the days I work at NYC, and I pay those days back,” she told Namibian Sun.
However, critics argue that her justification is insufficient given the absence of formal PSC approval for the role and continued payments.
Although the NYC executive chairpersonship is a full-time position, an internal arrangement seen by the Namibian Sun outlines that Silas-!Garas works two days per week at the NYC, takes unpaid leave for those days, and commits to ensuring neither role is compromised. She has also pledged to work overtime without additional pay.
“Although the executive chairperson position is full-time, the work can be done remotely... The workload does not necessitate the position being considered full-time,” she explained.
Silas-!Garas previously served on the NYC board from November 2021 to December 2024. In December, youth minister Agnes Tjongarero dissolved the board over governance concerns and promptly reappointed her as interim director and executive chairperson.
Justice ministry executive director Nghidinua Daniel confirmed that Silas-!Garas’ request to engage in remunerated external work was submitted to the PSC earlier this year, but a final decision is still pending.
“The ministry did not second Mrs Silas-!Garas to the NYC. However, the ministry is aware that she was appointed as interim [executive] chairperson...
"Her request was processed internally and forwarded to the PSC,” Daniel said, adding that the ministry could not comment on payments made to her by the NYC.
This clarification is significant, as public service regulations prohibit civil servants from receiving dual remuneration without PSC authorisation.
The PSC is yet to finalise her appointment, almost six months after she started work at the NYC.
Financial guidelines
Meanwhile, Erastus Haitengela, executive director of youth and sport, raised broader concerns about NYC’s financial management, cautioning against the misuse of public funds for “unauthorised” and “unapproved” purposes.
“The issue of NYC is a very serious matter... I issued financial guidelines last year to ensure NYC management complies with treasury instructions,” he said.
While he acknowledged that board-related matters fall under ministerial jurisdiction, Haitengela stressed that governance compliance remains a key concern.
In a letter dated 2 June 2025, NYC board member Sharonice Busch questioned the legality of Silas-!Garas’s acting appointment and the legitimacy of her remuneration.
“Neither the National Youth Council Act nor the Public Enterprises Governance Act makes provision for an acting executive chairperson... If true, payment of any acting allowance is in violation of NYC’s Human Resources Policy,” Busch wrote.
According to that policy, an acting allowance may only be paid if the individual serves in the acting role for 30 consecutive days, among other requirements.
In her response dated 4 June, Silas-!Garas reiterated that her arrangement had internal approval and that she often works overtime, without administrative support, to meet the demands of the role.
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