Niël Terblanché
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has seized assets worth over N$2 million from Etango Petroleum in Walvis Bay. This comes as part of an ongoing investigation into suspected corruption involving a Roads Authority (RA) employee and a supplier.
ACC spokesperson Josefina Nghituwamata said the investigation focuses on the procurement and handling of weighbridge equipment.
She said an invoice of N$2,37 million for a new weighbridge was allegedly certified without the equipment being delivered.
“Following the acquisition of the new weighbridge, the old weighbridge was refurbished by the same supplier for an amount of N$264,960 and reinstalled at Walvis Bay Weighbridge during September 2021,” Nghituwamata said.
In May 2022, the new weighbridge was delivered, and the old one was removed under the claim that it would be transported to Windhoek for storage.
However, the old weighbridge was instead installed at Etango Petroleum (Pty) Ltd without the RA’s knowledge or following proper disposal procedures.
Nghituwamata said the supplier is currently leasing the weighbridge to Etango Petroleum. She said the ACC is pursuing charges of fraud, theft, and money laundering under the Anti-Corruption Act, 2003 (Act No. 8 of 2003).
“The ACC reiterates its commitment to rooting out corruption and calls on all public and private sector entities to uphold transparency and accountability in procurement and service delivery,” she said.
In a separate case, the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) has filed a lawsuit against Etango Petroleum, seeking its liquidation over an unpaid debt of N$266 million. This is part of Namcor’s efforts to recover more than N$380 million from military fuel suppliers.
One of the other companies named is Enercon Namibia, which Namcor says owes over N$114 million. In its court documents, Namcor accused Enercon of reckless financial conduct and claimed the company is unable to pay its debts.
