Payback time for Boois

KARAS Governor Dawid Boois is to pay back close to N$180 000 for a housing subsidy he has benefited from since 2004 while he lived in a Council-assigned Government house.

It follows an Anti-Corruption probe at the Karas Regional Council into housing irregularities, irregular tender allocation and travel expenses. In the meantime, The Namibian has also reliably learnt that a further nine Council employees have been living rent-free in Council-assigned houses for the past six to eight years.This came to light at a Council meeting held yesterday The Namibian was informed.In Boois’s case, he received a whopping N$90 000-a-year housing subsidy for his private owned house (Erf 1411) – in the town’s Noordhoek area – which is registered in his name (title number T8205/2006) while occupying a Council-assigned Government house.In a letter seen by The Namibian, the Council’s Director Saul Kahuika, informed Boois that following consultations with Local Government Permanent Secretary Office and the Public Commission Office, it was decided to cease his monthly housing subsidy of N$ 7 500 as of the end of last month.”This office has consulted the Public Service Commission and the Office of the Permanent Secretary of Local Government, and was advised to cease the housing allowance as the Honourable Governor is not entitled to receive it for the reason that he occupies the assigned house of the Regional Council as per cabinet decision no.05/04.03.03/02,” Kahuika said.Yesterday, Local Government Permanent Secretary, Erastus Nekonga, said he was aware of the decision taken to stop the Governor’s housing subsidy.”It was contrary to Government regulations for him to receive a housing subsidy while staying in a Council-assigned house,” he said.According to Nekonga, early last year his office instructed the Council to terminate Boois’s housing subsidy but, for reasons not known to him, it failed to implement the decision.Approached for comment yesterday, Boois acknowledged receipt of the letter.”I respect the decision and I’m in the process of negotiating with Council on how to pay back the money,” he said.In the meantime, The Namibian has also reliably learnt that a further nine Council employees have been living rent-free in Council-assigned houses for the past six to eight years.This came to light at a Council meeting held yesterday The Namibian was informed.In Boois’s case, he received a whopping N$90 000-a-year housing subsidy for his private owned house (Erf 1411) – in the town’s Noordhoek area – which is registered in his name (title number T8205/2006) while occupying a Council-assigned Government house.In a letter seen by The Namibian, the Council’s Director Saul Kahuika, informed Boois that following consultations with Local Government Permanent Secretary Office and the Public Commission Office, it was decided to cease his monthly housing subsidy of N$ 7 500 as of the end of last month.”This office has consulted the Public Service Commission and the Office of the Permanent Secretary of Local Government, and was advised to cease the housing allowance as the Honourable Governor is not entitled to receive it for the reason that he occupies the assigned house of the Regional Council as per cabinet decision no.05/04.03.03/02,” Kahuika said.Yesterday, Local Government Permanent Secretary, Erastus Nekonga, said he was aware of the decision taken to stop the Governor’s housing subsidy.”It was contrary to Government regulations for him to receive a housing subsidy while staying in a Council-assigned house,” he said.According to Nekonga, early last year his office instructed the Council to terminate Boois’s housing subsidy but, for reasons not known to him, it failed to implement the decision.Approached for comment yesterday, Boois acknowledged receipt of the letter.”I respect the decision and I’m in the process of negotiating with Council on how to pay back the money,” he said.