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Niël Terblanché The Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) has suspended one of its staff members after uncovering a fraudulent tax refund scheme tied to the Mass Tax Refund Initiative. The scheme led to the illegal payout of over N$666 000 to 47 individuals between January and April 2025. NamRA confirmed in a statement on Monday that the staff member was suspended and that the secondment of a Ministry of Finance official involved in the matter had been revoked. Three suspects linked to the scheme were arrested and appeared in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court last week on fraud charges. An internal investigation…

Justicia Shipena  Former Agriculture Minister Mac-Albert Hengari has accused the Namibian Police of criminal conduct, claiming they attempted to embarrass him and manipulate public opinion in a rape case he is involved in. In a letter dated 2 May 2025, Hengari’s legal team, Dr Weder, Kauta & Hoveka Inc., alleges the police violated legal procedures and unlawfully disclosed sensitive information.  The letter demands the release of key documents for formal bail proceedings. Hengari made his first court appearance last week alongside his co-accused on charges of attempting to obstruct justice.  He was denied bail, and the case was postponed to…

Mia Kellerman and Duane Dausab In Hardap Regional Council v The Labour Commissioner (HC-MD-LAB-APP-AAA-2024/00014) [2025] NALCMD 8 (27 February 2025) (“Hardap”), the court clarified the long-standing debate on severance pay upon resignation. It ruled that an employer must pay severance to an employee only if they resign or retire upon reaching the age of 65, provided they have completed at least 12 months of continuous employment. Mitchel Mwabi was employed by the Hardap Regional Council as Chief Human Resources Practitioner. After ten years of continuous service, he resigned at the age of 45 and demanded severance pay under section 35(1)(c)…

Niël Terblanché President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called for national support for the Girl Guides Association of Namibia (GGAN), describing it as an important contributor to youth development and nation-building. Speaking at the 2025 World Thinking Day celebration in Ongwediva at the ELCIN Church over the weekend, Nandi-Ndaitwah shared her personal experience as a former guide and encouraged others to help grow the movement. ‘Outory’ is not just a phrase. It is characterised by courage, resilience, and sisterhood that has defined the World Guides and the Girl Guides Association of Namibia for over a century,” she said. The Head of State…

 Niël Terblanché The Namibian police are waiting for post-mortem results to better understand the circumstances of Deidre Meyer’s death. The 48-year-old woman, who was reported missing in mid-April, was found dead on Friday near the Hifikepunye Pohamba Freeway between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund. According to Inspector Judith Shomongula, a man who had gone to the dunes to pray discovered Meyer’s body around 11h00. Her father’s white Suzuki Jimny was parked a few metres away. The man called for help from someone passing on the nearby road, who then alerted the police. Shomongula said there were no signs of foul play.…

Niël Terblanché The Namibian Police (Nampol) are intensifying efforts to locate 52-year-old police officer George Hamanja Isaacks, who went missing in Walvis Bay last Friday under unclear circumstances. Isaacks, employed by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, had travelled from Windhoek for official duties. Isaacks was last seen by his colleagues around 14:00 on Friday. Since then, there has been no contact with him. “His phone is not reachable, and family members, friends, and colleagues have not heard from him since,” said Inspector Judith Shomongula, Nampol’s Erongo Regional spokesperson. At the time of his disappearance, Isaacks was…