Africa-Press – Namibia. ONE of the three suspended employees at Ondangwa Town Council, Antonius Donatius, has accused the council of protecting senior staff while suspending junior employees for crimes they did not commit.
ONE of the three suspended employees at Ondangwa Town Council, Antonius Donatius, has accused the council of protecting senior staff while suspending junior employees for crimes they did not commit.
Donatius, Lukas Kristian and Kaino Shikongo were suspended last month for allegedly selling residential plots at Onatsi at Ondangwa, which are meant for low-income earners, which Donatius denies.
Donatius is employed as a plumber, Kristian as a general worker, while Shikongo is a senior clerk at the town council. According to Donatius, he has been unfairly suspended as he did not participate in the sale of land.
“I don’t deal with land, I was just included because there was money that was deposited in my bank account. A colleague had asked me for my bank account and then I gave it.”
“I did not need to refuse to give it because he is my colleague. When the money was deposited, I gave it to him. I don’t know where the money came from,” he said.
He added that although he, Shikongo and Kristian have been suspended, the council is covering up for senior officials.
Donatius said the Ondangwa mayor, Paavo Amwele, also owns two plots at Onatsi.
“How did the mayor acquire those two plots there? The area is meant for low-income earners, but he got two plots – erf 493 and 494,” he remarked.
He believes their suspension is politically motivated because they are members of the Independent Patriots for Change.
Shikongo and Kristian could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Quizzed over the issue of the plots yesterday, Amwele denied that he owns plots at Onatsi, saying those accusing him that he owns plots want to sabotage him as well as the ongoing investigations.
“I don’t have a plot there. What do I do with it? It has been said before. It’s not only me, but other council employees as well, but it’s not true. I don’t have land there,” he said.
Amwele told The Namibian last month that the trio would allegedly ask residents waiting to be allocated plots to pay them certain amounts under the pretext that the money is for the plots.
In some instances, the mayor said, the officials sold plots meant for vulnerable people.
“We launched an investigation, and as we speak, we have suspended three employees. The investigation is nearly complete,” he said.
Amwele said there is concrete evidence, which might result in the dismissal of the suspended officials.
He said unemployed single mothers and other vulnerable people at the town have been taken advantage of this way.
The mayor said council has been investigating the matter, and it took them time to ascertain tip-offs from members of the public.
Some residents have paid for the land allocated to them by the council, while others received land at the expense of the needy, Amwele said.
Amwele said more than 600 plots were illegally sold by the involved officials.
At the time, the mayor urged individuals who bought plots from the suspended trio to report such to the town council.
Donatius, Lukas Kristian and Kaino Shikongo were suspended last month for allegedly selling residential plots at Onatsi at Ondangwa, which are meant for low-income earners, which Donatius denies.
Donatius is employed as a plumber, Kristian as a general worker, while Shikongo is a senior clerk at the town council. According to Donatius, he has been unfairly suspended as he did not participate in the sale of land.
“I don’t deal with land, I was just included because there was money that was deposited in my bank account. A colleague had asked me for my bank account and then I gave it.”
“I did not need to refuse to give it because he is my colleague. When the money was deposited, I gave it to him. I don’t know where the money came from,” he said.
He added that although he, Shikongo and Kristian have been suspended, the council is covering up for senior officials.
Donatius said the Ondangwa mayor, Paavo Amwele, also owns two plots at Onatsi.
“How did the mayor acquire those two plots there? The area is meant for low-income earners, but he got two plots – erf 493 and 494,” he remarked.
He believes their suspension is politically motivated because they are members of the Independent Patriots for Change.
Shikongo and Kristian could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Quizzed over the issue of the plots yesterday, Amwele denied that he owns plots at Onatsi, saying those accusing him that he owns plots want to sabotage him as well as the ongoing investigations.
“I don’t have a plot there. What do I do with it? It has been said before. It’s not only me, but other council employees as well, but it’s not true. I don’t have land there,” he said.
Amwele told The Namibian last month that the trio would allegedly ask residents waiting to be allocated plots to pay them certain amounts under the pretext that the money is for the plots.
In some instances, the mayor said, the officials sold plots meant for vulnerable people.
“We launched an investigation, and as we speak, we have suspended three employees. The investigation is nearly complete,” he said.
Amwele said there is concrete evidence, which might result in the dismissal of the suspended officials.
He said unemployed single mothers and other vulnerable people at the town have been taken advantage of this way.
The mayor said council has been investigating the matter, and it took them time to ascertain tip-offs from members of the public.
Some residents have paid for the land allocated to them by the council, while others received land at the expense of the needy, Amwele said.
Amwele said more than 600 plots were illegally sold by the involved officials.
At the time, the mayor urged individuals who bought plots from the suspended trio to report such to the town council.
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