ACC probes Witvlei graft claims

THE Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is investigating allegations of misappropriation of funds at the Witvlei Village Council.

ACC Director Paulus Noa told The Namibian yesterday that several allegations of corruption at the Village Council have been reported to the anti-graft body. He said the investigation started two weeks ago and has not yet been concluded.On Thursday last week, a concerned Witvlei resident complained to The Namibian that misappropriation of funds was rampant at the Witvlei Village Council and that the matter had been reported to the ACC.Last month, Witvlei residents took to the streets, demanding the removal of the council’s chairman and administrative staff and claiming there was corruption and embezzlement within the council.They accused council chairman Pio Nganate of awarding a council catering tender to his company, Paradise Investment, and allegedly claiming subsistence and travel allowances of N$20 000 a month.”There is no truth in these allegations,” Nganate told The Namibian yesterday.He said the false claims were being spearheaded by councillor Petrina /Oaes of the Namibian Democratic Movement for Change (NDMC), whom he described as “ill-informed” and wanting to cause problems in the council.He laughed off allegations that he was claiming N$20 000 for subsistence and travel allowances.Nganate admitted that the ACC had asked the council to provide answers to issues raised by the demonstrators and said they had already done so.”It’s just political and tribalistic and aimed at character assassination,” he added.He said the investigation started two weeks ago and has not yet been concluded.On Thursday last week, a concerned Witvlei resident complained to The Namibian that misappropriation of funds was rampant at the Witvlei Village Council and that the matter had been reported to the ACC.Last month, Witvlei residents took to the streets, demanding the removal of the council’s chairman and administrative staff and claiming there was corruption and embezzlement within the council.They accused council chairman Pio Nganate of awarding a council catering tender to his company, Paradise Investment, and allegedly claiming subsistence and travel allowances of N$20 000 a month.”There is no truth in these allegations,” Nganate told The Namibian yesterday.He said the false claims were being spearheaded by councillor Petrina /Oaes of the Namibian Democratic Movement for Change (NDMC), whom he described as “ill-informed” and wanting to cause problems in the council.He laughed off allegations that he was claiming N$20 000 for subsistence and travel allowances.Nganate admitted that the ACC had asked the council to provide answers to issues raised by the demonstrators and said they had already done so.”It’s just political and tribalistic and aimed at character assassination,” he added.