A supervisor at Keetmanshoop Superspar allegedly stole more than N$510 000 from the supermarket over five weeks to buy four iPhones, the police say.
The alleged theft has affected the supermarket’s payroll, with management having informed employees their July salaries would be paid in two instalments due to insufficient funds.
||Kharas regional police head of crime investigations deputy commissioner Nicodemus Mbango yesterday said Morris Kapepiso (23) was arrested on 7 July in connection with the alleged theft of N$510 000 from the supermarket between 1 June and 7 July.
Kapepiso was employed as a supervisor in the petty cash department.
“It is alleged that Kapepiso did not accurately record transactions conducted via the FNB Cash Plus service and failed to maintain proper documentation for petty cash disbursed for services or products supplied to the supermarket, and that the suspect reportedly stole the money for his personal use,” Mbango said.
The police alleged that Kapepiso used some of the money to buy iPhones from local dealers as well as overseas.
Investigators have seized four iPhone 12 devices imported from China.
The police suspect Kapepiso also ran an informal cash loan business.
This was contained in his bank statements, which are in possession of the police.
“The suspect made his first court appearance two weeks ago at the Keetmanshoop Magistrate’s Court, where his case was postponed to 8 August for further investigation. Bail was refused and he remains in custody,” Mbango said.
Keetmanshoop Superspar manager Petrus Strauss on Monday in a notice told staff they would not receive their salaries in full on 23 July.
“This serves as a formal notice that due to insufficient funds resulting from theft committed by staff members it will not be possible to pay salaries in full by 23 July,” the notice reads.
It says the first half of their salaries will be paid on 23 July, with the balance paid on or before 3 August.
Strauss opened a case of theft against an employee at the Keetmanshoop Police Station last month.
The salary notice has caused outrage among employees at the store.
Employees, who this week spoke to The Namibian on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation and dismissal, are asking why innocent employees must be disadvantaged financially.
They said a business has a responsibility to manage its payroll and internal losses without shifting that burden onto workers.
“While theft should certainly be investigated and those responsible held accountable, we believe it is unfair for innocent employees to suffer financially for actions they did not commit,” the employees said.
Superspar Keetmanshoop’s employees do not belong to a union.
“We feel not having a union creates an atmosphere of intimidation where workers feel powerless to defend their rights, as we cannot speak out for ourselves or have representatives who can speak on our behalf,” the employees said this week.
They say they have reached out to social activist Michael Amushelelo for assistance.
Amushelelo says no worker should be punished for the misconduct of others, and every employee deserves to receive the wages they have lawfully earned.
“Please warn Keetmanshoop Spar we will not tolerate this kind of nonsense. They have cameras all over the shop, so they should get the culprits instead of punishing everyone,” he says.
Strauss yesterday confirmed the staff notice, saying the company has opened a case of theft.
“The theft was discovered around June and could only be confirmed in July. That is when we made the criminal case.
“We are not saying the employees will not be paid, they will be just be paid through two payments,” he said.
