Iuze Mukube
The prosecution, addressing the court in the bail application of fraud and corruption accused Cedric Willemse, reiterated its concern over his dual nationality.
This was raised in closing arguments in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. The former Namcor supply manager testified he has dual citizenship of Namibia and South Africa and holds passports and identity documents of both countries.
State advocate Basson Lilungwe argued that while there is no law prohibiting one from being a dual citizen, the court must consider the risk of abscondment.
Because possessing citizenship and owning assets in another country can be seen as an incentive to abscond, he added.
In advocating for bail denial, he further stated that Willemse has both movable and immovable property, bank accounts, and relatives in South Africa.
Lilungwe also said that two immovable properties owned by Willemse worth N$4 million, which he apparently sold, was still in the accused’s name and yet to be sold at the time of his cross-examination on 10 September 2025.
He added that even if the claim was true that the properties were sold in South Africa, the money from the sale, is still being held in a bank in SA. He further stated there is no mention of the name of the buyer of those properties.
Hence, he argued, there is a high risk of abscondment by the accused as he has all the financial resources to start over in South Africa.
On the seriousness of the charges, he argued that “the money embezzled by Willemse would have been used to fund government projects and uplift communities but ended in the pockets of few individuals, including Willemse.
“This, we submit, is economic sabotage at its highest peak,” he added. “We are aware that possessing dual citizenship does not automatically disqualify one from being granted bail, however, we implore upon this court to consider the overall ties and connections the applicant has in South Africa,” argued Lilungwe.
Borris Isaacks, the lawyer for Willemse, argued that his client’s emotional roots, with his immediate family like his mother and siblings who are residing in Namibia, are deeply rooted in the country.
He further argued that his client has suffered a prejudiced while being in custody, and exemplified where a tenant of his refused to pay rent on the onset of his arrest.
He rejected the allegation that his client on 10 September 2025, still owned the properties that he apparently sold in South Africa, as false, adding it was a misleading form of cross-examination by the prosecution.
He added that it will not be in the interest of the public or of justice if his client is denied bail, since he was not involved in any of the asset or supply purchase agreement.
Willemse was only working on a consultancy basis at Namcor at the time, argued Isaacks. Magistrate Olga Muharukua reserved her ruling to 28 October 2025.
Photo: Heather Erdmann