Avid man in fishing shenanigans

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is investigating the affairs of Reho Fishing Company, which initially included a government school and a vulnerable children's charity as 40% shareholders, but later allegedly ended up transferring their shares to convicted Avid fraudster, Ralph Patrick Blaauw.He also allegedly received a further 10% stake, which resulted in him apparently owning 50% of the company.According to a bundle of documents seen by Namibian Sun, which includes an unsigned statement by former Reho Fishing chairperson Isak Mouton (Sakkie), Blaauw is now in the driving seat at Reho Fishing after audacious moves that saw shares being transferred onto his name.Blaauw, his wife Sharon, as well as former works deputy minister Paulus Kapia, Inez /Gâses and Nico Josea have been convicted of various charges linked to the disappearance of the N$30 million from the Social Security Commission (SSC) in 2005 and are awaiting sentence in the High Court.Blaauw, who is a former secretary-general of the National Youth Council, is alleged to have touted Avid Investment Corporation's political links to persuade SSC executives to invest N$30 million with the then newly-created firm.During the trial he had disputed testimony that he had told SSC managers that both Swapo and former President Sam Nujoma held stakes in Avid, while trying to convince the SSC management to invest.According to documents seen by Namibian Sun, a new saga is now brewing around Blaauw.The documents show that Rehoboth Primary School and Rene's Kids charity organisation each owned 20% of the Reho Fishing Company, chaired by local praise and worship leader Clive Willemse. They further show that in 2011, a stake of 15% each belonged to Alfred Mazila, Willemse, Monica Asino and Abius Akwaake. However, in March 2014, Rene's Kids 20% was signed over to Ralph Patrick Blaauw by Mellissa Ockhuizen, formerly from the charity organisation.On the same day, 10% of Akwaake's shares were also signed over to Blaauw, giving him a 35% stake in the company.According to Mouton, whose unsigned statement to the ACC has been seen by Namibian Sun, the Rehoboth Primary School shares were also transferred to Blaauw in 2014.When contacted for comment Ockhuizen referred Namibian Sun to the ACC, where she has reportedly given her side of the story.Meanwhile, the former principal of the Rehoboth Primary School, Paul Olivier, said his school only received financial support and was never paid any dividends. On 19 January 2012, Olivier authorised one of the school's teachers Salome Philander to sign a document on behalf of the school, with regard to social support from Reho Fishing Company. “I am not aware that the school had shares. We received financial support though. I cannot give you exact figures now because I am no longer at the school and I do not have access to those documents. I left the school in February 2016. Shares were never part of the discussions,” said Olivier. According to Philander the school was merely a social partner to Reho Fishing and has received N$50 000 used to pay off a school bus.Fisheries minister Bernard Esau said he was never notified of the transfer of shares and emphasised that shares cannot change ownership without the signature of the minister. “You cannot take a share of a community and transfer it into the name of an individual. If that has happened I was never informed and I would never sign something like that. When we give fishing rights to a group of people, say Mr A and Mrs B, normally they include formerly disadvantaged people and through this we can see that the wealth is redistributed,” he said. ACC chief investigator Nelius Becker confirmed that an investigation is currently underway into the affairs of Reho Fishing. Becker, however, said he cannot share any information with the media because the investigation is at a “sensitive” stage. When contacted for comment Willemse referred questions to his lawyer Gilroy Kasper. Kasper referred Namibian Sun to another lawyer Richard Metcalfe, who reportedly took over the case from him. Meanwhile, Blaauw said nothing was done illegally. According to him, they informed the office of the permanent secretary in the fisheries ministry, who advised them on how to handle the matter. “Even you yourself must know that a school cannot have fishing rights, but in the beginning we did not know that,” he said. On the transfer of shares into his name, Blaauw said: “There were board resolutions and a cabinet decision. Our documents were done properly by auditors. The ministry was informed already in 2012. You have to give in full documents otherwise the ministry will give you nothing.”JEMIMA BEUKES

Avid man in fishing shenanigans

Comments

Namibian Sun 2026-01-08

Please login to leave a comment

Avid man in fishing shenanigans

Comments

Namibian Sun 2026-01-08

Please login to leave a comment

Subscription Required to Access Content ×

Login

Subscription Required to Access Content