NamPost denies wrongdoing in alleged pensioner scam
NamPost has denied any wrongdoing in the case of 75-year-old pensioner Petrina 'Ouma' Sikela, whose family accuses the institution of mishandling an internal investigation into alleged fraudulent withdrawals from her account, allegedly by a boyfriend.
The controversy, which was first reported in July, has reignited after social justice activist Shaun Gariseb accused NamPost of refusing to take accountability and of “protecting culprits in internal play”.
“NamPost accepted their flawed investigation,” Gariseb claimed after a meeting with members of NamPost’s forensic and corporate departments, including Gladwin Groenewaldt and Benny Jacobs, last Thursday.
“They admitted their investigation only focused on whether N$20 000 was withdrawn inside. No investigation was done to establish who made the ATM withdrawals. They came unprepared, and their statement was incomplete," he claimed.
NamPost says its investigation found that all withdrawals were made with the pensioner's smart card and personal identification number (PIN), and that the amounts allegedly stolen could not be verified.
Gariseb, however, alleged that officials also refused to share surveillance footage of the transactions and claimed that records from 2019, when the account was allegedly manipulated, were no longer available.
“Ouma is hurt, but she is strong. God is with her. We will keep fighting NamPost, because how many pensioners are victims of these schemes unknowingly?” Gariseb added.
Devastating loss
The case first gained attention earlier this year when Gariseb revealed that Sikela, a widow from Windhoek’s Single Quarters, had nearly taken her own life after discovering that her pension-linked NamPost account had been tampered with.
According to documents seen by Namibian Sun at the time, five unknown beneficiaries were added to Sikela’s funeral policy without her consent, the family said, and a 43-year-old man falsely listed as her husband allegedly began withdrawing her pension funds.
Monthly deductions of N$280 reportedly continued from 2019, and Sikela’s thumbprint was allegedly misused to authorise policies she knew nothing about.
“This is fraud and theft against a vulnerable elderly woman who entrusted the system with her survival,” Gariseb said in July.
NamPost responds
NamPost’s initial response, issued by Groenewaldt on 28 July, acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations and promised a “transparent and accountable process”. The company assured the public that it would “protect elderly and vulnerable clients” and encouraged whistle-blowing through its hotline.
However, Gariseb criticised the investigation as “inadequate and incomplete”, demanding the release of names of those who added the fake beneficiaries and those who allegedly amended Sikela’s account.
In its latest correspondence last Thursday, NamPost reiterated that it found no irregularities on Sikela’s account and that all withdrawals were made using her smart card and PIN.
“NamPost will not assume any responsibility for these withdrawals,” the statement read, stressing that cardholders are responsible for safeguarding their PINs. The company added that Sikela’s balance “was never more than N$5 356.50” and that a N$20 000 withdrawal was therefore impossible.
NamPost confirmed that two unknown beneficiaries had been added to Sikela’s funeral cover in July 2019 but said this had since been corrected. It also refunded N$1 616.94 to her account to rectify overcharged deductions.
Still, Gariseb and the family remain unconvinced. “NamPost is an incompetent institution that has no care for the vulnerable citizens of this country,” he stated.
The controversy, which was first reported in July, has reignited after social justice activist Shaun Gariseb accused NamPost of refusing to take accountability and of “protecting culprits in internal play”.
“NamPost accepted their flawed investigation,” Gariseb claimed after a meeting with members of NamPost’s forensic and corporate departments, including Gladwin Groenewaldt and Benny Jacobs, last Thursday.
“They admitted their investigation only focused on whether N$20 000 was withdrawn inside. No investigation was done to establish who made the ATM withdrawals. They came unprepared, and their statement was incomplete," he claimed.
NamPost says its investigation found that all withdrawals were made with the pensioner's smart card and personal identification number (PIN), and that the amounts allegedly stolen could not be verified.
Gariseb, however, alleged that officials also refused to share surveillance footage of the transactions and claimed that records from 2019, when the account was allegedly manipulated, were no longer available.
“Ouma is hurt, but she is strong. God is with her. We will keep fighting NamPost, because how many pensioners are victims of these schemes unknowingly?” Gariseb added.
Devastating loss
The case first gained attention earlier this year when Gariseb revealed that Sikela, a widow from Windhoek’s Single Quarters, had nearly taken her own life after discovering that her pension-linked NamPost account had been tampered with.
According to documents seen by Namibian Sun at the time, five unknown beneficiaries were added to Sikela’s funeral policy without her consent, the family said, and a 43-year-old man falsely listed as her husband allegedly began withdrawing her pension funds.
Monthly deductions of N$280 reportedly continued from 2019, and Sikela’s thumbprint was allegedly misused to authorise policies she knew nothing about.
“This is fraud and theft against a vulnerable elderly woman who entrusted the system with her survival,” Gariseb said in July.
NamPost responds
NamPost’s initial response, issued by Groenewaldt on 28 July, acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations and promised a “transparent and accountable process”. The company assured the public that it would “protect elderly and vulnerable clients” and encouraged whistle-blowing through its hotline.
However, Gariseb criticised the investigation as “inadequate and incomplete”, demanding the release of names of those who added the fake beneficiaries and those who allegedly amended Sikela’s account.
In its latest correspondence last Thursday, NamPost reiterated that it found no irregularities on Sikela’s account and that all withdrawals were made using her smart card and PIN.
“NamPost will not assume any responsibility for these withdrawals,” the statement read, stressing that cardholders are responsible for safeguarding their PINs. The company added that Sikela’s balance “was never more than N$5 356.50” and that a N$20 000 withdrawal was therefore impossible.
NamPost confirmed that two unknown beneficiaries had been added to Sikela’s funeral cover in July 2019 but said this had since been corrected. It also refunded N$1 616.94 to her account to rectify overcharged deductions.
Still, Gariseb and the family remain unconvinced. “NamPost is an incompetent institution that has no care for the vulnerable citizens of this country,” he stated.
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