NBL takes on Namundjebo siblings on sale of depot plot

IN another case involving the Namundjebo family, it has emerged that Namibia Breweries Limited’s Oshikango depot was ‘sold’ to the Namundjebo-Tilahun Family Trust for N$611Ę000 – after NBL had invested more than N$7,5 million in a warehouse and Pick ‘n Pay shop on the property since 1996.

This case now also appears to be heading to court after coming to light in the wake of the dismissal of former Helao Nafidi CEO Chris Shivolo for alleged mismanagement of the town’s assets and numerous unexplained property deals there.In this case, businessman George Namundjebo had in 1996 obtained a Permission to Occupy (PTO) from the local authority to occupy a piece of land measuring about 26Ę000 square metres for a period of 20 years.He then entered into an agreement with the late Werner List to erect a warehouse depot for NBL’s distribution of their products into Angola, and subsequently applied for the PTO to be transferred into the name of a company jointly formed for this purpose, Northgate Properties (Pty).Company records reflect that of 100 out of 4Ę000 shares issued in Northgate Properties, NBL held 90 shares while Namundjebo held 10 shares.NBL then lent Northgate an amount of N$2 million in 1999 to erect the warehouse complex, which was to form the hub of NBL’s marketing and distribution into Angola.Namundjebo at the time was operating a Safeway Supermarket on the premises, but ran into financial difficulties (he owed his South African suppliers over N$1,1 million), and on 20 December 2000 sold his remaining 10 percent shares to NBL to redeem an outstanding debt of N$700 000, The Namibian established.In 2003, Oshikango, which is now part of the Helao Nafidi local authority, was declared a town, and the property – now known as Erf 13, situated directly across from the border post – was then offered for sale to NBL by CEO Shivolo by way of a letter dated 24 March 2005.No reaction came from NBL immediately, and on September 18 2006 Shivolo sent them another letter, repeating the offer and granting them until September 30 2006 to complete the sale.On November 9 2006, Shivolo again repeated the offer, granting NBL an unspecified period to pay off the plot. But it was not until June 6 2007 that NBL reacted, asking for a purchase price for Erf 13.Shivolo seemingly did not react – but on June 13 2006, he sold the same property but now extended to over 29Ę000 square metres to Martha Namund-jebo-Tilahun, on behalf of the Namundjebo Family Trust, Deeds Office records showed.NBL in the meanwhile attempted to get a price for property, offering eventually about N$32 per square meter – but Namundjebo-Tilahun somehow had convinced Shivolo to let her have the property for about N$23 per square metre, or 30 per cent less than what NBL apparently was offering.NBL then instituted legal action against Namundjebo-Tilahun and her family trust, as well as the Helao Nafidi Town Council. The case has however not been before court yet, and would likely only be heard early next year. Namundjebo-Tilahun could not be reached for comment, but sources close to her said she intended to defend any suit on the basis that the land had always belonged to her family.