Renthia Kaimbi
Walvis Bay Rural councillor Florian Donatus used the Erongo Regional Council credit card to buy cosmetics and groceries, according to invoices in possession of the Windhoek Observer.
Donatus was recently charged with fraud, theft, and money laundering over N$116 000 at the council.
A shopping invoice Metro in Walvis Bay shows purchases billed to the council that include two tubs of dairy ice cream, a can of deodorant, bubble bath in different scents, and other groceries such as dishwashing liquid, washing powder, cooking oil, sugar, and luncheon meat.
His conduct prompted minister of urban and rural development James Sankwasa to intervene in the matter.
Sankwasa on Friday during a meeting with the council ordered the chief regional officer, Mupenzeni Ntelamo, to take “necessary action” against Donatus.
Sources said the minister also called Ntelamo directly, demanding measures to address the corruption allegations facing the council.
The meeting discussed several issues, including the council vehicle still in Donatus’s possession.
He was reportedly ordered to return it immediately but tried to negotiate the terms, a request that was rejected.
Following Sankwasa’s intervention, Donatus withdrew from the upcoming regional council elections and stepped down as the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) candidate due to his pending fraud case in the Swakopmund Magistrate’s Court.
He was later removed from the IPC candidate list and replaced by Johannes Tjali.
Donatus was arrested last month and released on bail of N$50 000.
The allegations are linked to misuse of council funds and poor administration during his time as council’s chairperson.
His withdrawal from the race followed a letter of restraint issued by the IPC on 5 September, which barred him from representing the party while an internal committee investigated the allegations of fraud and mismanagement.
IPC spokesperson Immanuel Nashinge said the candidate change was part of a democratic process and declined to discuss the fraud case.
“The matter is before court. It is outside jurisdiction. On candidature, democracy took place and that is the way forward,” Nashinge told the Windhoek Observer.
