The Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters yesterday asked the ombudsman to launch an investigation into President Hage Geingob’s alleged role in the circumstances of the theft of almost US$4 million from his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa’s farm.
Ombudsman Basilius Dyakuga yesterday confirmed receiving a complaint from the NEFF, requesting a probe into the scandal that threatens to overshadow Ramaphosa’s term and ruin his chances of re-election at the African National Congress’ conference in December this year.
“Yes, I received the complaint this morning, and we will soon respond to them on the way forward,” Dyakuga told New Era, adding that his office will respond to the complaint sooner than expected. In their letter, NEFF deputy president Kalimbo Iipumbu said Namibia’s alleged role in the scandal was done without following due process as stipulated under the provisions of the Namibia Extradition Act, 1996 (No 11 of 1996) and Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 (No 51 of 1977), under which the legal procedures with regards to extraditing persons accused of committing criminal offences are prescribed.
“It is, therefore, our considered view that such alleged acts by the President are tantamount to the violations of the oath of his office. In terms of Article 30 of the Namibian constitution, the President took an oath and undertook to uphold, defend and protect the constitution as the Supreme Law of the land,” Iipumbu said in the letter.
“Pursuant to the above, as elected representatives of the Namibian people, we are hereby writing to you in accordance to the mandates and power invested in you under the provisions of Article 91 and 92 of the constitution of Namibia. In so doing, and without reiterating your functions, we are hereby humbly requesting your good office to institute investigation(s) in order to confirm or validate these serious allegations as levelled against the President, and take appropriate measures as provided within the ambit of the law if such allegations can be validated.”
Kalimbo said if the allegations are true, then it follows that Geingob would have connived with officials from immigration and border control, the airport control department, and officials from the police department to ensure that criminal laws are not complied with.
Geingob allegedly assisted Ramaphosa in apprehending the suspects in the alleged burglary and theft of US$4 million at Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm in Limpopo in 2020. Last week, former South African intelligence head Arthur Fraser opened a criminal case of money laundering, kidnapping and corruption against Ramaphosa over the money allegedly stolen by Namibians who conspired with that president’s domestic worker two years ago.
President Geingob was reluctant to comment on the investigation into
Ramaphosa during a press conference on Monday. Reacting to the allegations, Geingob said “As for the issue of South Africa, ever since I took office, I am in touch with about 14 Presidents. We don’t go through secretaries, we just call each other. This thing happened in South Africa; maybe there’s going to be a court case, let’s see. It’s a criminal case, people came here, some were here illegally and arrested back to South Africa. I don’t know how I could have done anybody a favour.”
“We give your office until Wednesday, 15 June 2022, to respond to the Namibian people as to what your office has done or will do with regards to this serious allegation involving the President,” the NEFF leader continued.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters’ (EFF) leader Julius Malema earlier this week said NEFF will open a criminal case against Geingob.
Addressing the media at the party’s he
adquarters in Braamfontein, Malema said:
“The EFF in Namibia has taken on the Namibian president; they are holding him accountable, and I’m told very soon they will be opening a criminal case against the president of Namibia for violating Namibian laws when it comes to foreign currency and issues of extradition.”
– ktjitemisa@nepc.com.na