Niël Terblanché
Two men linked to a fraudulent weighbridge deal involving the Roads Authority appeared in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
They were each granted N$30 000 bail, and the case was postponed to 1 August 2025 for further investigation.
The suspects are Richard Milinga, Divisional Manager of the Transport Inspectorate at the Roads Authority, and Grant Cloete, Managing Director of SASCO.
They were arrested earlier this week as part of an Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) investigation into procurement fraud and misappropriation of public assets.
ACC spokesperson Josefina Nghituwamata said the case involves an invoice of N$2 372 704 certified to suggest delivery of a new weighbridge to the Roads Authority.
Evidence shows the goods were either not delivered as specified or not received at all.
In September 2021, an older weighbridge was refurbished by SASCO for N$264 960 and reinstalled at the Walvis Bay weighbridge station.
When the new weighbridge was reportedly delivered in May 2022, the older one was removed from the site under the claim that it would be stored in Windhoek.
Investigations later found the removed weighbridge was installed at Etango Petroleum (Pty) Ltd’s premises.
The Roads Authority had not authorised the removal or disposal of the asset.
The ACC alleges the supplier is now leasing the equipment to Etango Petroleum. Assets worth more than N$2 million have already been seized.
Charges of fraud, theft, and money laundering are being pursued under the Anti-Corruption Act of 2003.
“The investigation remains active, and further updates will be shared with the public as developments unfold,” Nghituwamata said.
She said the arrests are part of ongoing efforts to ensure accountability in public institutions.
She urged the public to report any suspicious activities to the ACC through its anonymous hotline, email, or by visiting its offices.
