Gobabis council plans handsome pay-outs

OGONE TLHAGEWINDHOEKThe Gobabis town council is considering making handsome payments totalling about N$3 million to its acting CEO and health inspector, Steve Adonis, and a former employee, Christiaan Goreseb.A council resolution made provision for the unbudgeted amounts to be paid to the two, documents seen by Namibian Sun show.The municipal council is considering paying Goreseb N$1.8 million after the conclusion of a disciplinary process against him, despite being advised to approach the attorney-general’s office for legal advice.The council also considered paying Adonis N$800 000, of which N$500 000 would be paid out as a lump sum while the remaining N$300 000 would be paid out over a period of 12 months, translating into monthly payments of N$25 000.Adonis was appointed as the municipality’s health officer but in 2014, the then ministry of regional and local government, housing and rural development put a restructuring exercise on hold. The council at the time then discussed and approved the creation of the following managerial positions - manager: finance, manager: technical services, manager: electrical services and manager: human resources as approved by the ministry in 2014.Mindful of the ministerial advice, the council never discussed the health officer position.All communication to Adonis was done on the pretext of being town health officer but in 2018, he refused to sign a contract in that regard, Namibian Sun understands.Adonis then proceeded to open a labour case against the municipality but later withdrew it.Not impressedUrban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni has challenged the unauthorised payments in a letter to Gobabis mayor Elvire Theron.Approached for comment, Theron and the chairperson of its management committee, Sylvester Binga, said there had been attempts by former mayor Liberius Kalili and former deputy mayor Elwin Gariseb to sabotage the council’s work.“The previous mayor, Liberius Kalili, who is implicated in the Capital Project Audit Report, is on a witch-hunt accusing the current council of corruption and irregularities.“Kalili is getting fed by one of the staff members that is busy sabotaging the council with confidential documents from the human resources and finance departments.“Kalili and his team are just on a witch-hunt and it’s just a form of retaliation. There is a great fear for the current forensic investigation that will pinpoint evidence of allegations made,” Theron and Binga said in a statement.According to them, former deputy mayor Gariseb had in fact written to the urban and rural development minister to intervene in the labour matter involving Adonis.“It is very clear that he is also disturbed that he has not been reappointed as the deputy mayor and he will now sabotage council resolutions,” they said.Uutoni has asked the council to look into the grievances and submit a report to his office.“Please provide my office with a written detailed response in the form of a report,” Uutoni said.

Gobabis council plans handsome pay-outs

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-12

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Gobabis council plans handsome pay-outs

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-12

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