Allexer Namundjembo
The Bukalo Village Council CEO, Ntwala Lyamine-Sazita, has denied allegations of delayed salary payments, asserting that staff members have been receiving their salaries on time.
This response comes after complaints shared with the Windhoek Observer accused the council of failing to pay salaries on time since March 2024.
The complaints included claims that the council had not paid third-party contributions for nine consecutive months since March 2024.
“Money is deducted from employees’ salaries but is never paid over to the third parties. The message states that non-payments led to the suspension of medical aid.
Lyamine-Sazita, who joined the council a year ago, acknowledged the accusations against her leadership but dismissed them as attempts to damage her reputation.
“All these claims are fabricated to tarnish my leadership. I am new to the area, and when I arrived, I found the council in disarray. The medical aid was suspended, and I made agreements to ensure it was reinstated. It is now functioning. Even insurance companies like Old Mutual were disengaged, but I successfully negotiated with them. I am trying to help the town. On the 14th, we are called to the labour court, but we are unsure about the specifics of the case,” she said.
She also addressed allegations that the council received N$3.2 million from the Ministry of Rural and Urban Development to compensate 2 139 residents but compensated only 26 households.
“That number is incorrect. We are compensating 39 households, and so far, we have compensated 26 households. We face challenges in compensating households due to legal disputes from people who disagree with our proposals or refuse compensation. We maintain records and are transparent,” she said.
Lyamine-Sazita called on the media to highlight progress in smaller towns, which she said often goes unnoticed.
She noted that Bukalo could have been upgraded to a town council if previous leadership had prioritised development.
“For nine years, this town has remained a village council. When I arrived, residents were unhappy because the sewerage system wasn’t functioning. Within six months of my tenure, we managed to fix it. Initially, residents were upset, but now they see the progress we are making,” she added.
The council’s human resource manager, Siyema Victor supported the CEO’s statements, explaining that financial challenges sometimes occur when payments for water and electricity services do not reach the council’s accounts.
He also confirmed that the medical aid issue had been resolved.
“The CEO is doing her job well and trying to keep things on track by making payment arrangements where necessary. Those spreading false claims should have focused on the town’s development in the past. The allegations of unpaid salaries are untrue, as we receive our salaries on time, and our medical aid is active,” he said.
