Controversial N$7 500 SSC pen becomes a hot potato

A PRICEY pen that the Social Security Commission (SSC) bought three years ago to “sign important documents” has apparently become too hot to handle.

The Mont Blanc pen and pencil set, bought for N$7 500 in 2001, is locked in the safe, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tuli Hiveluah said last week they are yet to decide what to do with it. “Maybe we will keep it at the resource centre as a memento.The way I see it is that nobody wants to be associated with it,” Hiveluah said in a telephone interview.The SSC board members or commissioners this month discussed for the first time a report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry, which has made wide-ranging recommendations about improving the administration of the parastatal.The inquiry recommended that the parastatal get rid of the pen and pencil set that has so far failed to serve the purpose that General Manager for Corporate Affairs, Simon //Hoabeb, told the commission they were meant to fulfil.”The Commission regards this expense as unnecessary, extravagant and ill considered,” reads the report, adding that it described evidence given during public hearing last year that the set was to be used to sign important documents as “incredible”.”The pen and pencil set was scarcely used since its purchase, notwithstanding the fact that there are indications that many important documents were generated since the purchase of the pen and pencil set.”//Hoabeb bought the set in Johannesburg, South Africa, without permission from senior management, but former CEO Dessa Onesmus eventually agreed to keep it at the SSC.She reprimanded //Hoabeb.Hiveluah said the price of the set was “blown out of proportion” as he has seen more expensive pens.However, he agreed that the in context of the SSC being a welfare agency might have raised the controversy.”Maybe we will keep it at the resource centre as a memento.The way I see it is that nobody wants to be associated with it,” Hiveluah said in a telephone interview.The SSC board members or commissioners this month discussed for the first time a report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry, which has made wide-ranging recommendations about improving the administration of the parastatal.The inquiry recommended that the parastatal get rid of the pen and pencil set that has so far failed to serve the purpose that General Manager for Corporate Affairs, Simon //Hoabeb, told the commission they were meant to fulfil.”The Commission regards this expense as unnecessary, extravagant and ill considered,” reads the report, adding that it described evidence given during public hearing last year that the set was to be used to sign important documents as “incredible”.”The pen and pencil set was scarcely used since its purchase, notwithstanding the fact that there are indications that many important documents were generated since the purchase of the pen and pencil set.”//Hoabeb bought the set in Johannesburg, South Africa, without permission from senior management, but former CEO Dessa Onesmus eventually agreed to keep it at the SSC.She reprimanded //Hoabeb.Hiveluah said the price of the set was “blown out of proportion” as he has seen more expensive pens.However, he agreed that the in context of the SSC being a welfare agency might have raised the controversy.