Keetmans municipal CEO sent on forced leave
Elizabeth Joseph
KEETMANSHOOP
The Keetmanshoop municipality has placed its CEO Desmond Basson on administrative leave pending an investigation into allegations of maladministration.
Reginald Brandt has been appointed as acting CEO.
Basson has been placed on three-month administrative leave to allow an unbridled and clean investigation into several corruption allegations.
According to a source, various payments were made without the knowledge and consent of the previous council and this prompted further investigation.
The municipality has since released a resolution after a council meeting was held on 23 April.
"The CEO Desmond Basson has been put on administrative leave from 3 May for three months to allow for further investigation into the Maximum Profit Namibia matter,” the press statement read, adding that the council would appoint an independent consultant to investigate matter
Meanwhile, human resources senior executive Elvis Mukaya has been appointed as Brandt’s alternative.
LPM official and Keetmanshoop management committee chairperson, Easter Isaaks, added that if they verify the facts, they will act on the case and lay appropriate charges on Basson.
The past lingers
Less than a year ago, Basson was close to being let go due to similar allegations - some being signing a service agreement with VAT returns reconciliation specialists, MaxProf (Pty) Ltd, without council endorsement, which cost the council approximately N$1.5 million.
In 2020, he stood accused of having single-handedly awarded a debt collection tender to Redforce Debt Management in 2017. The town council claimed this was also done without approval.
According to paperwork provided by the municipality's finance department, he further transferred several plots to Duma Tau Property Developers in 2018 without ministerial approval.
Between the 2015 and 2019 financial years, the council accumulated a deficit of about N$37.1 million. Furthermore, overtime expenditures reached more than N$300 000 towards the end of February 2020.
Efforts to reach Basson for commentary proved futile.
KEETMANSHOOP
The Keetmanshoop municipality has placed its CEO Desmond Basson on administrative leave pending an investigation into allegations of maladministration.
Reginald Brandt has been appointed as acting CEO.
Basson has been placed on three-month administrative leave to allow an unbridled and clean investigation into several corruption allegations.
According to a source, various payments were made without the knowledge and consent of the previous council and this prompted further investigation.
The municipality has since released a resolution after a council meeting was held on 23 April.
"The CEO Desmond Basson has been put on administrative leave from 3 May for three months to allow for further investigation into the Maximum Profit Namibia matter,” the press statement read, adding that the council would appoint an independent consultant to investigate matter
Meanwhile, human resources senior executive Elvis Mukaya has been appointed as Brandt’s alternative.
LPM official and Keetmanshoop management committee chairperson, Easter Isaaks, added that if they verify the facts, they will act on the case and lay appropriate charges on Basson.
The past lingers
Less than a year ago, Basson was close to being let go due to similar allegations - some being signing a service agreement with VAT returns reconciliation specialists, MaxProf (Pty) Ltd, without council endorsement, which cost the council approximately N$1.5 million.
In 2020, he stood accused of having single-handedly awarded a debt collection tender to Redforce Debt Management in 2017. The town council claimed this was also done without approval.
According to paperwork provided by the municipality's finance department, he further transferred several plots to Duma Tau Property Developers in 2018 without ministerial approval.
Between the 2015 and 2019 financial years, the council accumulated a deficit of about N$37.1 million. Furthermore, overtime expenditures reached more than N$300 000 towards the end of February 2020.
Efforts to reach Basson for commentary proved futile.
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