Niël Terblanché
Former Brave Warriors midfielder and current civil servant, Sylvester “Lolo” Goraseb, staged a solitary protest in chains at the entrance of the Office of the Prime Minister on Wednesday morning.
The unusual demonstration, which attracted the attention of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), was a protest against what Goraseb described as a lack of structural independence and integrity in Namibia’s public service.
Goraseb, who is currently employed within the Department of Public Service Management, raised concerns over the current placement of the Public Service Commission under the Office of the Prime Minister.
He argued that this arrangement compromises the commission’s impartiality and limits its capacity to make independent decisions on matters affecting the civil service.
“It is supposed to be an independent agency that handles public service management issues without interference or influence from the Office of the Prime Minister,” he told NBC reporters.
According to the NBC, Goraseb also claimed that the Public Service Commission itself had previously submitted recommendations advocating for greater autonomy but had remained under the direct oversight of the Prime Minister’s office.
In addition to his institutional concerns, Goraseb raised alarm over what he described as leadership failures within the Department of Public Service Management.
He alleged that certain senior officials, including the heads of the ethics and integrity division, had been found to be dishonest under oath during Labour Commission proceedings.
“This is the rot we are referring to,” he said, adding that executive leadership within the Prime Minister’s office had failed to uphold standards of accountability.
In response, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) issued a lengthy statement confirming it had taken note of the protest, which took place outside its head office in Windhoek on Wednesday.
The OPM reiterated its commitment to staff wellbeing and stated that values of accountability, transparency, integrity and responsiveness underpin its operations.
The statement went on to describe Goraseb’s claims as false, unfounded and malicious, asserting that the Public Service Commission operates independently and without undue influence.
“This working relationship has existed for 35 years since its inception, and no record of interference is recorded,” the statement read.
Goraseb’s criticism was further questioned on the basis of his own role in the department.
“It is thus doubtful that he takes an issue with the operations and autonomy of the Public Service Commission,” the statement read.
The OPM used the opportunity to remind Goraseb and all other public servants, to use official grievance procedures to raise concerns and assured that any formal complaint would be dealt with professionally and without prejudice.
