Hardap Governor says the Ministry is to blame for disciplinary delay

HARDAP Governor Katrina Hanse has blamed the Ministry of Local Government for the delay in bringing disciplinary charges against two suspended officials of the Hardap Regional Council.

Hanse told The Namibian that the suspended officials’ charge sheets had been forwarded to the Ministry four months ago for endorsement. Chief Regional Officer James Sankwasa and Chief Control Officer Leonard Stephanus were suspended in May after council property was found stored at the farm Komatsas 108, owned by Stephanus, near Mariental.In terms of the Public Commission Service Act, the line ministry – Regional and Local Government in this case – should endorse a charge sheet against a Regional Council’s chief regional officer.”Several attempts by Council to secure the Minister’s [John Pandeni] signature on the charge sheets proved futile, prompting us to call for intervention by the Prime Minister Office,” Hanse said yesterday.She said the Ministry knew that the Permanent Secretary, to whom it [Ministry] had referred the matter, was not entitled to endorse a charge sheet against the council’s chief regional officer.Hanse said she trusted that the charge sheets would be endorsed soon, following the intervention of the Prime Minister’s Office.Hanse’s comments followed a report in an Afrikaans daily, which charged that the Hardap Council was dragging its feet in bringing disciplinary charges against the officials.Hanse said the Council frequently consulted with its lawyers and the Attorney General’s office to ensure that it followed correct suspension procedures.She said the Council wanted the matter to be finalised as a matter of urgency, since the officials were still on the Council’s payroll while on suspension.Hanse said the charges against the officials were substantial, but she could not reveal them because the two had not been charged yet.The Namibian has reliably learnt that Sankwasa faces a main charge of removing Council property without Council’s consent, and four other counts, including insubordination.Stephanus apparently faces a single charge of removing Council property without approval, The Namibian was informed.Attempts to get comment from Minister Pandeni by the time of going to press yesterday proved unsuccessful.Chief Regional Officer James Sankwasa and Chief Control Officer Leonard Stephanus were suspended in May after council property was found stored at the farm Komatsas 108, owned by Stephanus, near Mariental.In terms of the Public Commission Service Act, the line ministry – Regional and Local Government in this case – should endorse a charge sheet against a Regional Council’s chief regional officer.”Several attempts by Council to secure the Minister’s [John Pandeni] signature on the charge sheets proved futile, prompting us to call for intervention by the Prime Minister Office,” Hanse said yesterday. She said the Ministry knew that the Permanent Secretary, to whom it [Ministry] had referred the matter, was not entitled to endorse a charge sheet against the council’s chief regional officer.Hanse said she trusted that the charge sheets would be endorsed soon, following the intervention of the Prime Minister’s Office.Hanse’s comments followed a report in an Afrikaans daily, which charged that the Hardap Council was dragging its feet in bringing disciplinary charges against the officials.Hanse said the Council frequently consulted with its lawyers and the Attorney General’s office to ensure that it followed correct suspension procedures.She said the Council wanted the matter to be finalised as a matter of urgency, since the officials were still on the Council’s payroll while on suspension.Hanse said the charges against the officials were substantial, but she could not reveal them because the two had not been charged yet.The Namibian has reliably learnt that Sankwasa faces a main charge of removing Council property without Council’s consent, and four other counts, including insubordination.Stephanus apparently faces a single charge of removing Council property without approval, The Namibian was informed.Attempts to get comment from Minister Pandeni by the time of going to press yesterday proved unsuccessful.