NBS ­appointment: Unam denies ­misconduct

The University of Namibia (Unam) has refuted allegations by staff members that the process to appoint Dr Jacques Stofberg as director of the Namibian Business School (NBS) was flawed and biased.The university told Namibian Sun that it adheres to an affirmative action policy, while evaluating all candidates on merit. It added that allegations of policy violations to benefit relatives or friends are unfounded and without substance.

“[Unam] remains committed to transparency and integrity. Contrary to the allegations, Dr Stofberg was not head-hunted. He underwent all aspects of the recruitment process, including a thorough interview process, psychometric assessment, public presentation and reference checks,” spokesperson Simon Namesho said.

‘Favouritism’

In a document seen by Namibian Sun, staff members claimed Stofberg’s appointment was a result of favouritism, following the failure of the initial advertisement of the position.

The staff members further claimed that Unam overlooked its affirmative action policy and the interview and psychometric assessment conducted, which revealed that Stofberg was found unsuitable. They added that no reference check was conducted by the human resources department.

“This is not the first time that [registrar] Professor [Erika] Maass and human resources director [Reginald Izaks] violated the university policy. They must be held accountable for initiating such an appointment without verifying the facts. These scandalous appointments have serious consequences for an institution that is already in financial challenges (not being able to pay staff salaries timeously),” the document read.

The university said Stofberg was the hiring committee’s second choice. The first candidate declined the position due to personal reasons, leading to his appointment, it added.

‘Unaware of mental issues’

Meanwhile, the staff members claimed that Stofberg suffers from mental-health-related medical conditions, which were detected at the beginning of his employment at Unam in May. He failed to commence his duties as stipulated by the contract, the group said. “His chaotic and unethical behavioural problems are seriously affecting his relationship with colleagues and staff members.”

In response, the university indicated that it respects privacy and confidentiality when dealing with staff members. At the time of his appointment, Unam was not aware of any mental health condition affecting Stofberg, the institution’s spokesperson noted.

“He [Stofberg] did not declare any such condition and subsequent interactions did not indicate a need for additional support. It is important to note, however, that only a certified medical practitioner can confirm the presence of a medical condition,” Namesho said.

Failed suspension

According to the aggrieved staff members, Unam attempted to suspend Stofberg following a disciplinary process. It later withdrew the charges and instead put him on sick leave after being threatened with legal action. “Unam’s reputation has been damaged because of the risks involved. They suspended [Stofberg] to avoid further embarrassment,” the staff members claimed.

To these claims, Namesho said the university does not discuss employer-employee matters publicly to protect the privacy and dignity of its staff. He added that the university is well aware of the impact leadership positions have on the institution, and takes allegations of misconduct seriously. All decisions are made with the best interests of the university and its community in mind, he said.

“We assure all our stakeholders that all recruitment processes are conducted in adherence to our policies and legal frameworks. Any concerns or grievances are addressed through the appropriate internal channels.”

When contact for comment yesterday, Stofberg said: The matter is under investigation and I have no comment whatsoever. I advise you to talk to the human resources director at Unam [Izaks]”.