Tension at Rundu Town Council over alleged dual jobs
Moonlighting claims denied
Phillipus JosefRundu
Tension is brewing at the Rundu Town Council amid allegations that some of its employees are holding two jobs while failing to report for duty, claims categorically dismissed by the council’s CEO Olavi Nathanael as misleading and rooted in “corridor propaganda”.
The letter, dated recently, notes that the employee’s work performance and attendance had deteriorated since February, when they began “freelancing”.
Management warned the employee to “report to your office as required by your employment contract” with the town council.
However, when contacted for comment, Nathanael dismissed the claims, insisting that no council employee holds two formal jobs.
“We should be very clear on how we interpret some of this information we collect from the streets,” he said. “Some of it is deliberately miscommunicated for specific reasons and agendas. People are trying to use our offices and the media to cement their propaganda, and I don’t support that.”
He explained that the employee in question was merely freelancing during their after-work hours, a practice he compared to other professionals taking side gigs outside normal working time.
“If someone is doing freelance work during official hours, that is a different case – our policy does not allow that,” Nathanael added. “But what we are seeing here is freelancing, not dual employment.”
‘Out of proportion’
Despite the CEO’s clarification, sources within the council maintain that “moonlighting” has become common among some staff members, especially those involved in administrative and technical departments.
According to the sources, who preferred anonymity, certain employees are allegedly often “nowhere to be found” during working hours, raising questions about accountability and supervision.
The issue has reportedly sparked frustration among those who claim to carry the workload for absent colleagues. “People are getting paid full salaries while they’re busy with side hustles. It’s demoralising,” one employee said on condition of anonymity.
Nathanael, however, dismissed these claims as part of ongoing internal politicking within the institution.
“We hear these things too often, and they’re coming from certain corridors,” he said. “I know where it’s coming from, but I won’t mention names.”
For now, the CEO maintains that no one within the council has breached employment regulations, insisting the matter has been “blown out of proportion”.
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Tension is brewing at the Rundu Town Council amid allegations that some of its employees are holding two jobs while failing to report for duty, claims categorically dismissed by the council’s CEO Olavi Nathanael as misleading and rooted in “corridor propaganda”.
The letter, dated recently, notes that the employee’s work performance and attendance had deteriorated since February, when they began “freelancing”.
Management warned the employee to “report to your office as required by your employment contract” with the town council.
However, when contacted for comment, Nathanael dismissed the claims, insisting that no council employee holds two formal jobs.
“We should be very clear on how we interpret some of this information we collect from the streets,” he said. “Some of it is deliberately miscommunicated for specific reasons and agendas. People are trying to use our offices and the media to cement their propaganda, and I don’t support that.”
He explained that the employee in question was merely freelancing during their after-work hours, a practice he compared to other professionals taking side gigs outside normal working time.
“If someone is doing freelance work during official hours, that is a different case – our policy does not allow that,” Nathanael added. “But what we are seeing here is freelancing, not dual employment.”
‘Out of proportion’
Despite the CEO’s clarification, sources within the council maintain that “moonlighting” has become common among some staff members, especially those involved in administrative and technical departments.
According to the sources, who preferred anonymity, certain employees are allegedly often “nowhere to be found” during working hours, raising questions about accountability and supervision.
The issue has reportedly sparked frustration among those who claim to carry the workload for absent colleagues. “People are getting paid full salaries while they’re busy with side hustles. It’s demoralising,” one employee said on condition of anonymity.
Nathanael, however, dismissed these claims as part of ongoing internal politicking within the institution.
“We hear these things too often, and they’re coming from certain corridors,” he said. “I know where it’s coming from, but I won’t mention names.”
For now, the CEO maintains that no one within the council has breached employment regulations, insisting the matter has been “blown out of proportion”.
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