The Keetmanshoop Municipality’s managers allegedly overstepped their powers when five senior officials last week went on an unauthorised three-day trip to Upington.
A source within the municipality alleged the managers had undertaken the trip without any council or ministerial approval.
All foreign trips by council workers or political office bearers must first be endorsed by the council or the Local Government Ministry, according to the source.
Commenting on the alleged illegal foreign trip, acting Keetmanshoop Municipality CEO Andre Blaauw, who was part of the management team that had undertaken the trip, said they could not get approval from the council because its failure to convene a meeting.
He said the management had approached the Local Government Ministry for a trip authority, but they could not give them a clear answer on the eve of the departure date.
‘We decided to go on the trip because we deemed it necessary since it was part of the partnership agreement we have with the Upington municipality,’ said Blaauw.
Other managers who were on the trip were Josef Rooi, George Joseph, Nimrod Swartz and Quinton Visagie, The Namibian was told.
When approached for comment, Local Government Minister Jerry Ekandjo angrily responded: ‘I have nothing to do with The Namibian’.
luqman@namibian.com.na
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