Renthia Kaimbi
The interim executive chairperson of the National Youth Council (NYC), Beverly Silas-!Garas has resigned, effective 19 August 2025.
Her resignation ends an eight-month interim leadership that began in December 2024, during which the NYC faded legal disputes, protests, frozen funding, and allegations of political interference.
Silas-!Garas submitted her resignation letter on 11 August 2025.
She said the decision coincides with the end of her two-month extension, which she did not request.
“I have given my reasons to the minister [Sanet Steenkamp], and therefore will not disclose them publicly. It’s a decision I made with a sober mind without any duress,” she said.
Her appointment followed the dissolution of the entire NYC board by then-minister of sport, youth and national service, Agnes Tjongarero, in December 2024.
Tjongarero cited governance concerns and failure to execute the council’s mandate.
She appointed an interim board and named Silas-!Garas, a former NYC board director and youth representative for marginalised communities, as chairperson and interim executive chairperson.
The appointment was challenged by the Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) and the Youth Forum, who took the matter to the High Court.
They argued that Tjongarero acted outside her legal powers under the NYC Act, calling the decision “unconstitutional” and “procedurally flawed.” Youth groups protested at NYC offices and the ministry, rejecting the interim board as “illegitimate” and demanding the reinstatement of the elected board or fresh elections.
The High Court suspended the decision six days later due to procedural flaws.
In June, Silas-!Garas faced scrutiny for holding a second job as acting executive chairperson of NYC, earning N$22 000 per month, without approval from the Public Service Commission (PSC).
She serves in the directorate of legal services in the ministry of justice and said she had applied for permission to receive external pay.
At that time, she claimed the ministry’s executive director had approved her request, pending PSC recommendation.
In the same month, the ministry said her request had been sent to the PSC but had not yet been endorsed.
Silas-!Garas said she worked two days a week at the NYC, took unpaid leave for those days, and ensured neither role was compromised.
She said she often worked overtime without additional pay.
She previously served on the NYC board from November 2021 until its dissolution in December 2024.
Two months ago, Silas-!Garas said she would not seek reappointment once her interim term ended in June and called for merit-based appointments.
In her resignation letter, she expressed gratitude to minister Steenkamp, former minister Tjongarero, former deputy minister Royal Ui/o/oo, NYC staff, youth leaders, stakeholders, and her family for their support.
Steenkamp confirmed to Windhoek Observer that she received the resignation letter and said the ministry will address NYC’s board matters.
“We are actively engaging all role players, within our legal mandate, to ensure NYC matters are addressed. Also, her letter states that she served two terms already. The law does not make provision for a third term,” she said.
