Renthia Kaimbi
The Henties Bay chief executive officer Elizabeth Coetzee’s one-year and nine-month suspension ended without a hearing when her employment contract expired on 31 July 2025.
She now plans to take legal action against the council.
A leaked report detailed several serious allegations that led to Coetzee’s suspension in October 2023.
What was meant to be a six-month investigation stretched into one year and four months, sparking ministerial intervention and public criticism.
Charges served to Coetzee in December 2024 included duplicating travel claims from Henties Bay and Gobabis municipalities for N$11 725, awarding a contract to RedForce Debt Management without competitive bidding.
She was also charged for backdating an addendum to legalise the deal, and breaching confidentiality by allegedly leaking a councillor’s details to a politician, which led to a defamation case.
Coetzee told the Windhoek Observer that she waited nearly two years for the chance to present her case, only to see her contract expire without a hearing.
She denied all allegations.
“They just wanted to get rid of me. I have never stolen anything from Henties. Gobabis even made a double payment, for which they requested the additional money back. How is it that I am being accused of fraud and theft if the council got the money back and not even from me?” she questioned.
On the RedForce contract, she said the procurement committee recommended the appointment and that she acted on its advice.
She added that the confidentiality claim was baseless and intended to target her.
“Despite that, the council lost their court cases about the RedForce issue. Even the alleged leaking of a councillor’s details didn’t go well in court,” she said.
Although the council approved a settlement agreement, it never implemented it.With her contract expired, the council now argues that no employer-employee relationship exists, making further proceedings unnecessary.
In June, urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa intervened in the suspension of Coetzee.
During his visit to the Erongo region, Sankwasa held lengthy discussions with the council and said the ministry could not ignore the prolonged suspension.
This week, Sankwasa told the Windhoek Observer the suspension was unnecessarily prolonged.
“Whatever she wants to do now, she can do to protect her rights. That’s her right,” he said.
Namibia Public Workers Union western regional coordinator Richard Kayimbi confirmed the case would be referred to the Labour Commissioner for unfair labour practices and dismissal.
He said the council initially proposed to withdraw the charges in exchange for an ex gratia payment equal to severance pay and to pay her leave days and remaining remuneration until 31 July 2025, but this agreement was never implemented.
“At the genesis of her wanting to go through a disciplinary hearing, council willingly wanted her to enter into a settlement agreement. To this end, our member remains innocent and has not been found guilty of any misconduct, ,” Kayimbi said.
