Govt officials fear return of colleague who wrote their names in bowl

One of the officials at the Government Garage at Ondangwa has expressed fear over the return of a workmate who allegedly wrote colleagues’ names in a traditional bowl known as etiti and buried it along the Ongwediva-Ondangwa road early last year.

This follows a report by the Ministry of Health and Social Services, dated 1 July 2022, which states that following counselling conducted by the social workers with staff members of the Government Garage, some of the staff experienced “anxiety, fear and uncertainty” regarding Julius Shongolo’s return to work.

Shongolo shot himself following the discovery of the traditional bowl he had allegedly buried along the Ongwediva-Oshakati road and was hospitalised for months.

Last month, the executive director in the Ministry of Works and Transport, Ester Kaapanda, instructed Shongolo, who is accused of writing the names of eight of his colleagues in the traditional bowl, to go back to the Government Garage.

Shongolo said yesterday that he would only comment on the matter if authorised to do so by the ministry.

“If he returns to the Government Garage, what if he tries something else or the people whose names he is said to have written in the bowl do something to him? Who guarantees the safety of these people?” a colleague who spoke on condition of anonymity, asked.

Shongolo was transferred from the Government Garage to the Government Stores at Ondangwa in August last year, according to a letter written by Kaapanda dated on 3 August last year.

However, in March, Shongolo wrote a letter requesting to be transferred back to the Government Garage.

“[…] your temporary transfer to the division of centralised service, Ondangwa warehouse, has been abrogated. Therefore, you are hereby transferred back to Ondangwa Government Garage with immediate effect,” Kaapanda wrote to Shongolo last month.

However, a staff member from the Government Garage alleges that the letter was not signed by Kaapanda.

The source claimed that the letter did not follow proper channels as it was sent directly to Shongolo instead of coming from the department under which the government garage falls.

Ministry of Works and Transport spokesperson Julius Ngweda told The Namibian that the decision to transfer Shongolo back to the Government Garage was taken after an investigation by the ministry and was based on the law.

“Leave out etiti as there is no lawful action that can be taken based on it,” he said.

He also said the letter was written by the executive director in the ministry of works.

According to Ngweda, Shongolo would not go to the Government Garage until the the ministry of works head office in Windhoek communicates its decision.

“When Shongolo resumed duty (from sick leave) Aron Amakali refused to give him keys to his (Shongolo) office. He was kept [sic] in the boardroom for some time. He has been staying in his car,” Ngweda added.

Names written in the traditional bowl were those of head of Ondangwa Government Garage Nande Amakali, deputy director of the garage Aron Amakali and chief artisan foreman Mathew Ameya.

Also among the names were: director of the government garage Sam Kadhikwa, works inspector Josephina Shekudja, an investigator at the ministry only referred to as Konstaatin, retired former head of Ondangwa Government Garage Tobias Emvula and chief works inspector George Kapofi.

A report by the Ministry of Health and Social Services, dated 1 July 2022, said: “Following numerous deliberations, the team expressed concern regarding the concerned member’s (Shongolo’s) physical and psychological well-being following the suicide attempt incident.

The report was signed by Oshana health director Johanna Haimene.

According to the report, the decision was allegedly taken prior to Shongolo’s resumption of duty. A medical assessment should be done to determine his mental fitness and readiness to return to work.

It is not clear whether the medical assessment was done.

The findings of the report show that 37 out of 41 staff members at the Government Garage had no objection to Shongolo’s return to work, but felt that “it would not be good for Mr Shongolo to continue working with the colleagues whose names he allegedly wrote in the traditional bowl”.

Social workers observed that the situation at the Ondangwa Government Garage “is worrisome and warrants immediate interventions”.

Amakali refused to comment on the issue, saying he will respond when he gets a report from the ministry.