Leon Jooste – Page 2 – Windhoek Observer

16 Feb

Swapo divisions re-emerge over Air Namibia

ObserverObserver MoneyFinance Minister Iipumbu Shiimi, Henning Melber, Leon Jooste, Ndumba Kamwanyah, Onurair, SWAPO

Andrew Kathindi Divisions in ruling Swapo’s party have once again resurfaced in light of the Air Namibia matter after a Swapo’s parliamentary caucus has demanded the reversal of a decision made by a Swapo-led Cabinet on the liquidation of Air Namibia. This comes as Swapo affiliated National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) along with several other unions have planned a mass public demonstration against government’s decision to liquidate the airline this week. “This just is a sign of the party internal disarray. A significant number of higher-ranking party officials are in government and Cabinet positions. Hence it could have been…

13 Feb

Turkish Onurair almost saved Air Namibia

ObserverUncategorisedAir Namibia, Leon Jooste, Turkish Onurair

Andrew Kathindi Public Enterprises Minister, Leon Jooste, revealed that Air Namibia was almost taken over by Turkish airliner, Onurair, prior to Cabinet approving voluntary liquidation. Jooste said government sent invitations to airliners to try and save the national flag carrier, however nothing transpired. “We were asked to write to all airlines currently operating to Namibia and those that we know are intending to come including this company. No formal response or request for further engagements were received from any of them,” Jooste told Windhoek Observer. Onurair had shown interest in taking over the beleaguered Namibian airliner. According to documents from…

04 Feb

Air Namibia board resigns …accuses shareholder of governance violations

ObserverObserver MoneyAir Namibia, Escher Luanda, Heritha Muyoba, Leon Jooste, Ministry of Public Enterprises, Willy Mertens

Staff Writer The Air Namibia board resigned en masse on Wednesday after writing a scathing letter, accusing government of corporate governance violations in its dealing with the airline. First to hand in his resignation was Willy Mertens, who is reported to have resigned on Monday, after the airline on Friday had entered into a settlement agreement with Belgian company, Challenge Air whom it owed for a 1998 airplane lease agreement. Air Namibia board Chairperson, Escher Luanda, and Heritha Muyoba are reported to have tendered their resignations on Wednesday, a position confirmed by Public Enterprises Minister, Leon Jooste, with the status…

29 Jan

I am tired – Jooste

ObserverObserver MoneyLeon Jooste, Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), Public Enterprises minister

Maria Hamutenya Public Enterprises minister, Leon Jooste says he is tired of seeing public enterprises being dragged to court due to governance failures that can easily be prevented. The minister’s frustrations come as the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) joined the growing list of public enterprises that have been taken to court over various transgressions. “I will always be concerned when there's an aggrieved party due to any process that should be conducted in a fair and transparent manner. I'm really tired of seeing Public Enterprises constantly being dragged to court, in particular when it's due to governance…

28 Jan

Agribusdev investigation report out next month

ObserverUncategorisedAgribusdev investigation report, Leon Jooste, Petrus Uugwanga

Maria Hamutenya The Public Enterprise ministry is next month set to release the long awaited report into its investigations into the operations Agricultural Business Development Agency (Agribusdev) including its late Managing Director, Petrus Uugwanga. The investigation which was commissioned last year, came after the government owned agency had been embroiled in various scandals, including alleged questionable acquisitions of materials such as fertilizers for its green schemes and the recruitment of the South African consultant who was believed to be close to Uugwanga. Public Enterprise Minister Leon Jooste confirmed to the Windhoek Observer that his ministry had been presented with a…

13 Nov

Jooste backs Fishcor board . . .as Nghipunya clings onto CEO post

ObserverObserver MoneyFishcor, Leon Jooste, Public Enterprises minister

Staff Writer Public Enterprises minister, Leon Jooste has come out in support of the beleaguered Fishcor board, amid mounting tension between it and the company’s management. The minister’s support comes as the fishing company’s managers in a scathing letter leaked to the media in which the minister was copied in, accused the interim board of malfeasance. They claimed that board members Social Security Commission Executive officer Milka Mungunda, lawyer Ruth Herunga, Mihe Goamab II and Penny Hiwilepo-Hal directly interfere in the day-to-day operations of the company. “This Board was appointed to an institution with a multitude of complex, intricate legacy…

02 Oct

Govt never consulted over Air Namibia salary cuts

ObserverUncategorisedAir Namibia, Leon Jooste, Theo Mberirua

Helena Johannes and Andrew Kathindi Government says it was never consulted by Air Namibia over its decision to cut workers’ salaries by 50 percent. Public Enterprises Minister, Leon Jooste, told the Windhoek Observer that the decision to cut employees’ salaries who have not been going to work, by 50 percent, came as a surprise to him as “the Ministry was not consulted on the matter. We were not consulted on any of this.” The Minister further noted that “Air Namibia has been receiving monthly subsidies specifically for paying salaries.” This revelation comes as the national flag carrier’s plan to cut…

15 Sep

Fish Trust awaits board appointments

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Leon Jooste, Public Enterprise Minister

Andrew Kathindi Public Enterprise Minister, Leon Jooste has said that the process of recruiting a new Namibia Fish Consumption Promotion Trust (NFCPT) Board has been derailed by COVID-19. “The process to identify the candidates is ongoing. The entity has not been operating as a result of COVID-19 and the pandemic has also affected our program to recruit,” he told Windhoek Observer. This comes after the terms of the last Board, which served from 2017 lapsed in September 2019. The board was chaired by Suzan Ndjaleka. NFCPT was established with a mandate to promote fish consumption throughout the country, through the…

11 Aug

NAMCOR board appointed

ObserverObserver MoneyLeon Jooste, NAMCOR, Public Enterprises minister

Staff Writer Public Enterprises minister, Leon Jooste on Monday announced a new National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR) board to be chaired by Nampost Executive, Jennifer Comalie. MTC Chief Human Capital and Corporate Affairs Officer, Tim Ekandjo who was recently appointed Deputy Chairperson of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation, will take up a similar role in the new look board, which has seen former board Chairperson, Engelhardt Kongoro becoming an ordinary board member. Professional Coach, Movational Speaker and Human Resources Executive, Florentia Amuenje was also appointed to the board with Namdia board member, Selma Shimutwikeni. Tresia //Gowases and previous board member,…

07 Jul

Fishcor board appointed

ObserverObserver MoneyLeon Jooste, Minister of Public Enterprises

Staff Writer Minister of Public Enterprises, Leon Jooste, has announced the appointment of a temporary Fishcor board, two months after the previous board term expired. The Fishcor board, which will serve for six months until January 2021, will be chaired by former Executive Director at the African Development Bank Group, and Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia board chairperson, Heinrich Mihe Gaomab II. Other board members include Kalahari Holdings Director and Social Security Commission's Executive Officer, Milka Mungunda. Former Magistrate, Ruth Herunga, and University of Namibia Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Head, Dr. Penny Hiwilepo van Hal, are two members…