Renthia Kaimbi
Employees at the National Youth Council (NYC) are questioning why newly appointed interim executive chairperson Patience Masua ordered a personal selection of snacks worth more than N$4 000 as office refreshments during her second week in office.
The issue comes amid criticism of Masua’s N$100 000 monthly salary for a three-month tenure.
A detailed request seen by the Windhoek Observer lists liquifruit juices, romany creams and eet-sum-mor biscuits, barbecue-flavoured pringles, biltong including droëwors and sliced beef, dried fruits, granola bars, long-life milk, Douwe Egberts coffee, honey, mint sweets and Oasis still water. The items were submitted for procurement as office refreshments.
The request raised concerns within the institution. A staff member in the procurement unit, speaking on condition of anonymity, questioned the need for the order.
“Why are snacks and refreshments worth over N$4 000 being bought for one person when this has never happened at the institution?” the source asked.
“Usually, the institution only provides sugar and coffee for employees. Anything else is on you and your salary. Water and sweets are procured for meetings only.”
The concerns come as Masua’s remuneration remains under scrutiny. Her appointment letter from the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture confirms her appointment until 31 March 2026.
The three-month term may be extended to June 2026 or until a permanent executive chairperson is appointed.
Several youth organisations affiliated to the NYC have criticised the salary for a temporary position.
The matter also follows recent remarks by minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture Sanet Steenkamp during a staff meeting on Wednesday, where she warned against misuse of public resources.
At the meeting, Steenkamp said, “Public funding is not an entitlement,” and that misuse of resources would lead to corrective action.
In a written response, Steenkamp did not address Masua’s case directly but restated the principle.
“As a matter of principle, the Ministry does not comment on specific allegations concerning individuals while internal processes are ongoing or before facts have been formally established,” Steenkamp said.
She added, “What I can reiterate, however, is the position I stated publicly: public funding is not an entitlement. All SOEs and subsidised institutions are required to use public resources strictly in line with approved policies, budgets, and procurement rules, and to account for such use transparently.”
Steenkamp said concerns raised would be dealt with through governance processes and that “should any irregularities be confirmed, corrective action will follow in accordance with the law.”
NYC acting director Dominic Mukumba said the budget for refreshments is limited to official meetings.
“The following items were procured: coffee, sugar, powdered milk, and mints (sweets). The council rejects the purchase of biltong, dried fruits, Pringles, and granola bars,” Mukumba said, although sources in procurement dispute this account.
Questions sent to Masua were not answered by the time of publication.
