Klein's suspension irks Jooste

Reports emerged on Friday that the CEO of Telecom Namibia Theo Klein was suspended following a probe into an apparent fake tender with N$12 million. Both The Namibian and the NBC reported that the acting chairperson of the parastatal Irene Simeon-Kurtz had confirmed Klein's suspension in a letter dated 23 November 2018 “that was directed to government”. She is quoted as saying that the suspension follows an internal investigation launched by Telecom in October and following an 'extraordinary board meeting” on 23 November 2018, “resolved to suspend Mr Theo Klein”. On Sunday, neither Oiva Angula, the senior manager of corporate communications and public relations at Telecom Namibia, nor public enterprises minister Leon Jooste, could confirm Klein's suspension. Angula told Namibian Sun that he was off and not at work and consequently could not comment. Jooste, when asked to confirm Klein's suspension, told Namibian Sun, “Apparently, yes.” He confirmed that he had not seen any documentation and was not consulted. “I am shocked to learn of this through social media sources on Friday. We issued a very clear directive that all SOE boards have to seek permission from the line minister and the Ministry of Public Enterprises before any CEO or member of senior management may be suspended. “I find it ludicrous that a board chooses to deliberately ignore such a directive,” he said. He added that he will use current legal provisions at his disposal to hold boards accountable for undue financial consequences that may “result from these suspensions”. Jooste said that his ministry supports and encourages probes of senior employees and then to take appropriate disciplinary measures or report suspected fraud and corruption to the ACC or police, but added “it is very seldom necessary or beneficial to suspend the person”. Reports on Klein's suspension state that he would be served with charges within 48 hours as provided for by Telecom's company policy. Klein's suspension follows those of three senior executives to allow an investigation into how the company had paid some of the monies into the alleged N$12 million false contract.

Klein's suspension irks Jooste

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-14

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Klein's suspension irks Jooste

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-14

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