RA Chairman in tears

APART from emotional scenes with crying witnesses – including Roads Authority chairman Nama Goabab – last week’s public hearings into malpractices in the management of the roads system were dominated by revelations that board members took money they were not entitled to.

Goabab, who is chief executive officer for Swabou Life and Swabou Insurance, started his testimony in a defiant mood. He refused to disclose information that he said he ” … would take with me to grave” as he was sworn to secrecy.Goabab described himself as “a person of integrity and honour” while explaining why some decisions were not put in writing.Under cross-questioning, he attempted to justify why tax was paid to him as part of the board of directors’ fees instead of directly to the Receiver of Revenue.”You have claimed GST [General Sales Tax].Were you entitled to that?” asked Otniel Podewiltz, Legal Counsel for the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Activities, Management and Operations of the Road Fund Administration (RFA) and the Roads Authority (RA).Goabab said that the forms used to claim directors’ fees were similar to the ones used by other “service providers” of the Roads Authority, and they provided for tax rebates.”I have made full disclosure on income that I have received,” said Goabab, while confirming that he had not been registered to receive tax rebates.Podewiltz said: “How would you explain accepting payment knowing it is wrong, only to declare it to the Receiver ‘ knowing it was wrong?” Goabab maintained that he had “indicated” to RA administrators that the payments were “erroneous’.”I don’t think I am in the wrong,” he added.His tax claims involved N$19 000 worth of payments between late 1999 and early 2000.The Roads Authority chairman was not the only director to face questions about taking money to which they were not entitled.Board of Directors’ members Ailly Hangula-Paulino and Eliphas !Owos-oab confirmed they had received money for meetings at the Roads Authority that they had not attended.Goabab, who has been chairman since before the launch of the Roads Authority in 2000, came under intense grilling for the way the parastatal was being run.He remained adamant that he had ” … applied my mind” in all the undertakings of the parastatal.Goabab reportedly shed tears towards the end of his testimony on Thursday, closing the proceedings in the style they had begun with both RFA and Roads Authority managers Gunter Seydack and Sophia Tekie shedding tears.He refused to disclose information that he said he ” … would take with me to grave” as he was sworn to secrecy. Goabab described himself as “a person of integrity and honour” while explaining why some decisions were not put in writing. Under cross-questioning, he attempted to justify why tax was paid to him as part of the board of directors’ fees instead of directly to the Receiver of Revenue. “You have claimed GST [General Sales Tax]. Were you entitled to that?” asked Otniel Podewiltz, Legal Counsel for the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Activities, Management and Operations of the Road Fund Administration (RFA) and the Roads Authority (RA). Goabab said that the forms used to claim directors’ fees were similar to the ones used by other “service providers” of the Roads Authority, and they provided for tax rebates. “I have made full disclosure on income that I have received,” said Goabab, while confirming that he had not been registered to receive tax rebates. Podewiltz said: “How would you explain accepting payment knowing it is wrong, only to declare it to the Receiver ‘ knowing it was wrong?” Goabab maintained that he had “indicated” to RA administrators that the payments were “erroneous’. “I don’t think I am in the wrong,” he added. His tax claims involved N$19 000 worth of payments between late 1999 and early 2000. The Roads Authority chairman was not the only director to face questions about taking money to which they were not entitled. Board of Directors’ members Ailly Hangula-Paulino and Eliphas !Owos-oab confirmed they had received money for meetings at the Roads Authority that they had not attended. Goabab, who has been chairman since before the launch of the Roads Authority in 2000, came under intense grilling for the way the parastatal was being run. He remained adamant that he had ” … applied my mind” in all the undertakings of the parastatal. Goabab reportedly shed tears towards the end of his testimony on Thursday, closing the proceedings in the style they had begun with both RFA and Roads Authority managers Gunter Seydack and Sophia Tekie shedding tears.