Charges laid at Bethanie

THE Bethanie Village Council has laid 11 charges against its Secretary, Ronald Windswaai, who was suspended without pay in November.

A charge sheet, signed by Chairperson of the Village Council, Johanna Nassauw, claims that Windswaai gave himself advances, overtime and travel and subsistence allowances amounting to more than N$342 000. It is also alleged that the Secretary forged a signature on two cheques for N$29 000, misappropriated over N$1,3 million invested for the development of the village, paid close to N$11 000 for unspecified services and misled the Council into buying a vehicle that was not roadworthy.Windswaai, through his lawyers Garbers Associates, has denied misappropriating any Village Council funds.According to the charge sheet, Windswaai failed to account for a payment of N$643 235,35 he authorised.Some N$342 000 of that amount is alleged to have been pocketed by the Secretary as advances, overtime and travel and subsistence allowances.Windswaai is also accused of forging the signature of Clerical Assistant, Marenda Boois, to make two payments for travel and subsistence allowances (S&T) to the tune of N$19 028 and N$10 542,30.The charge sheet states that Windswaai used around N$1,3 million to pay for high salaries, S&T, acting allowances and other “unnecessary expenses”.”This fund was earmarked for development and you failed to implement any development project within the fiscal year,” reads the charge sheet.The Bethanie Village Council claimed it gave Windswaai approval to buy a vehicle for N$40 000 from a Keetmanshoop car dealer, but he opted to buy an unroadworthy vehicle from a mechanical engineer.Windswaai is also accused of entering into internet advertising agreements without Council approval.He was further charged with claiming a housing subsidy while he occupied a Council house.The disciplinary hearing started on Thursday but was postponed after the Council asked for time to secure lawyers to represent him.Once the Windswaai case is concluded, the Council is set to press for charges to be formulated against four other employees – Willem Rooi, Marenda Boois, Marcelle Pienaar and Schalk van der Westhuizen.Only Windswaai has been suspended.Nassauw said the Council wanted the case to be over by the beginning of March.Windswaai was suspended after angry residents laid civil and criminal charges against the five Council employees accused of stealing from the local authority.Some of the residents emptied the contents of toilet buckets at the Council premises late last year.It is also alleged that the Secretary forged a signature on two cheques for N$29 000, misappropriated over N$1,3 million invested for the development of the village, paid close to N$11 000 for unspecified services and misled the Council into buying a vehicle that was not roadworthy. Windswaai, through his lawyers Garbers Associates, has denied misappropriating any Village Council funds. According to the charge sheet, Windswaai failed to account for a payment of N$643 235,35 he authorised. Some N$342 000 of that amount is alleged to have been pocketed by the Secretary as advances, overtime and travel and subsistence allowances. Windswaai is also accused of forging the signature of Clerical Assistant, Marenda Boois, to make two payments for travel and subsistence allowances (S&T) to the tune of N$19 028 and N$10 542,30. The charge sheet states that Windswaai used around N$1,3 million to pay for high salaries, S&T, acting allowances and other “unnecessary expenses”. “This fund was earmarked for development and you failed to implement any development project within the fiscal year,” reads the charge sheet. The Bethanie Village Council claimed it gave Windswaai approval to buy a vehicle for N$40 000 from a Keetmanshoop car dealer, but he opted to buy an unroadworthy vehicle from a mechanical engineer. Windswaai is also accused of entering into internet advertising agreements without Council approval. He was further charged with claiming a housing subsidy while he occupied a Council house. The disciplinary hearing started on Thursday but was postponed after the Council asked for time to secure lawyers to represent him. Once the Windswaai case is concluded, the Council is set to press for charges to be formulated against four other employees – Willem Rooi, Marenda Boois, Marcelle Pienaar and Schalk van der Westhuizen. Only Windswaai has been suspended. Nassauw said the Council wanted the case to be over by the beginning of March. Windswaai was suspended after angry residents laid civil and criminal charges against the five Council employees accused of stealing from the local authority. Some of the residents emptied the contents of toilet buckets at the Council premises late last year.