WINDHOEK- TransNamib has threatened to take legal action against Advocate Richard Metcalfe’s law firm for allegedly defaming the chairperson of the board of the State-owned enterprise (SOE), Pieter Oosthuizen, and other board members.
The threats follow rife speculation that Roads Contractor Company (RCC)’s acting CEO and chairman of TransNamib, Oosthuizen, does not have a requisite work permit for Namibia and that his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is invalid.
Metcalfe made the damning statement in a letter he copied to the Minister of Works and Transport, Erkki Nghimtina, and to Prime Minister Dr Hage Geingob. The letter pointed out that he was “able to personally ascertain from the Ministry of Home Affairs [and Immigration] that neither newly appointed Executive Turn-Around Project Manager at TransNamib, Johan Piek and Oosthuizen have work permits for work they do at TransNamib”.
Advocate Metcalfe is representing the suspended CEO of TransNamib, Sara Naanda.
However, Nghimtina yesterday could not shed more light on the matter, saying he was in the Zambezi Region on official duty but promised to study it if he receives it.
“I was in Zambezi. I didn’t get the document. I am also not dealing with permits. I have nothing to do with someone’s work permits, as they fall under someone else’s portfolio. But I will study the document if I receive it,” Nghimtina said.
Piek is, in fact, the most well paid employee at TransNamib, earning N$2.5 million per year, the letter further read.
“This is with the greatest respect absolutely shocking for an employee without a work permit,” the letter adds.
Metcalfe further wrote that Oosthuizen’s qualifications are dubious and that he has been performing work in Namibia without a work permit.
“To add insult to injury, this foreigner appointed by you has billed parastatals for courses presented by an unaccredited educational institution in Namibia,” he said.
Against this, TransNamib yesterday said that the document by Metcalfe attorneys is a “deliberate action to cast doubt on the competencies and capabilities of and a person[al] attack on the character of the chairperson, Pieter Oosthuizen, and Johan Piek, Consultant of the TransNamib Turn-Around Strategy.”
TransNamib board spokesperson, Dantagos Jimmy-Melani, said: “This is an extremely serious issue. The board is currently seeking legal advice, as they are of the opinion that the correspondence by Metcalfe attorneys is not only defamatory in respect of the chairperson, but also TransNamib and its board.”
Melani also stated that Metcalfe’s documents contain defamatory and false information that will be dealt with in the correct legal forums.
“TransNamib will not be side-tracked by these malicious insults, but we will stay focused on achieving the goals of the Turn-Around Strategy,” she noted.
Metcalfe further points out in the letter that Oosthuizen is a charlatan who holds a doctorate from Pacific West Coast University obtained in 1994.
“Such university was never accredited and was closed by the State of Hawaii by a civil lawsuit in 2006. Dr Oosthuizen does not hold a doctorate from California Miramar University,” Metcalfe wrote.
Metcalfe requested the minister to give feedback by March 20 failure which will leave them with no choice but to approach the office of the Prosecutor General.
Oosthuizen could not be reached for comment by the time of going to print.
Naanda was notified of her suspension by Oosthuizen in a letter dated October 30.
In the suspension letter, Naanda is required to be reachable at all times on her cellphone number – even at short notice.
“You are not to leave the Windhoek area during normal working hours without previous permission obtained from the board chairman,” the letter states, informing her that she should obtain permission in writing if she wants to leave the district of Windhoek.