Whistleblower alleges labour office irregularities, alerts ACC

A whistleblower has asked the ACC to investigate allegations of corruption, nepotism and irregular recruitment practices within the Office of the Labour Commissioner.

The request is contained in a six-page complaint submitted to the ACC on 5 June.

ACC spokesperson Marina Matundu told Namibian Sun last week that the commission would look into the matter.

The whistleblower alleges that recruitment and promotion processes at the labour commissioner's office have consistently failed to comply with public service legislation and principles of fairness and transparency.

The letter alleges "consistent patterns suggesting that the recruitment and promotion processes are not in line with the Public Service Acts, Public Service Staff Rules and the principles of fairness and transparency”.

One of the allegations relates to interviews for Grade 6 arbitrator positions conducted in April 2022.

According to the complaint, Namibian Employers’ Association (NEA) president Henry Bruwer, who was on the panel, was allegedly seen reading interview questions from his mobile phone before the interviews.

Namibian Sun understands that interview questions are formulated collectively by panel members immediately before interviews begin and that strict procedures prohibit panel members from using mobile phones.

The letter said when the human resources officer Veneranda Sheehama asked Bruwer about the questions, he allegedly said he had received them from the then deputy labour commissioner Kyllikki Sihlahla. Sihlahla was appointed labour commissioner in 2024.

“Despite the clear procedural irregularity and potential leak of confidential interview material, the chairperson declined to recuse or suspend Mr Bruwer from the panel,” the complaint states.

The whistleblower further alleges that the incident was never investigated and that Bruwer continued serving on subsequent interview panels.

Bruwer denied any wrongdoing when contacted by Namibian Sun.

“I have been on two panels so far, and I have never read questions from my mobile phone,” he said. “Questions are determined by all of us panellists together with HR. And it depends, sometimes one and sometimes two questions per person. I read mine from the paper.”

Exclusion

The complaint also raises concerns about recruitment interviews conducted in November 2025 for chief arbitrator Grade 5 and arbitrator Grade 6 positions.

The whistleblower alleges that the Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu) was excluded from the recruitment process.

“It is alleged that Ms Sihlahla deliberately delayed and reset the recruitment process for these positions to wait for her preferred internal candidates to complete their mandatory public service probation period, which would make them legally eligible for promotion,” the complaint claims.

The allegations come as chief arbitrator Dionysius Louw has separately referred an unfair labour practice dispute against several senior government officials.

Documents seen by Namibian Sun show that Louw alleges that disciplinary proceedings instituted against him are unlawful and amount to retaliation after he reported alleged maladministration within the Office of the Labour Commissioner.

The matter was scheduled for arbitration on 26 June.

The whistleblower also accuses the Office of the Labour Commissioner of mismanaging daily subsistence allowance (DSA) payments, with some arbitrators allegedly receiving payments, while newly appointed arbitrators remained in Windhoek instead of reporting to their designated duty stations.

“There is abuse of DSA, including more than N$50 000 paid in January 2026 to some arbitrators who were supposed to report to their respective duty stations but remained in Windhoek in January 2026.

Denial

Sihlahla denied knowledge of systemic corruption, nepotism or irregular recruitment practices.

“I am not aware of the alleged complaint submitted to ACC, nor am I aware of any systemic corruption, nepotism or irregular recruitment practices within my office,” she told Namibian Sun.

Sihlahla also rejected allegations that she shared interview questions or confidential recruitment material with Bruwer ahead of the April 2022 interviews.

“Panel members are not even permitted to use their mobile phones or leave the venue before the interviews are concluded.

"Where it becomes necessary for a panel member to leave the boardroom briefly, including to use the ablution facilities, this is done under the supervision of the HR official serving as the secretariat,” Sihlahla said.

She said newly appointed arbitrators remained in Windhoek only temporarily to undergo induction and practical training before being deployed to their duty stations.

According to Sihlahla, DSA is paid only to officials undertaking authorised travel away from their official duty stations in accordance with government policy and prescribed rates.

She denied mismanagement of DSA funds, saying that operational demands, rather than weak financial controls, have placed pressure on the office's travel budget.

“Each claim is based on the approved travel, the duration of the official trip, and the applicable DSA rates for the destination concerned,” she explained.

"Officials who do not travel away from their duty stations are not eligible to claim DSA. All officials who satisfy the requirements are treated equally and are entitled to claim DSA in line with the policy.

“Any claim submitted contrary to the prescribed requirements would be inconsistent with the applicable rules and, if established, would be dealt with through the appropriate administrative or disciplinary processes,” Sihlahla said.

On Louw's unfair labour practice dispute, Sihlahla said the disciplinary matter remains pending before the labour commissioner.

“It would be inappropriate for me to comment on the allegations or the merits of the disciplinary process,” she said.