Desmarius Hansen
Affirmative Repositioning leader Job Amupanda has raised serious questions about a N$3 million fuel supply transaction involving August 26 Holdings, alleging that a foreign truck delivered fuel to the Osona military base without the necessary transport authorisation, while several intermediary companies were involved in the deal.
Speaking during a press conference today, Amupanda questioned how August 26 Holdings came to be involved in supplying fuel to the ministry of defence despite allegedly not holding a fuel supply licence, and why the transaction involved multiple private companies.
According to Amupanda, the defence ministry required fuel for Osona military base and approached August 26, which allegedly brought in six intermediary companies or “middlemen” as Amupanda described them, one of which was identified as Sunrise Investments CC.
He alleged that August 26 subsequently invoiced the ministry approximately N$3 million for the fuel, while the actual delivery was undertaken by Bridge Water Oil and Gas on behalf of Sunrise Investments.
However, Amupanda questioned the circumstances under which the fuel was transported into the military installation, alleging that a truck from Botswana was used to deliver the consignment.
He questioned whether the vehicle had obtained the necessary authorisation to transport goods within Namibia, particularly given the country’s cross-border road transport regulations.
“Fuel is a regulated area because there are things you can do and things you cannot do,” Amupanda said.
He specifically questioned whether the truck complied with the Road Traffic and Transport Act of 1999, which regulates cross-border road transport and prohibits unauthorised cabotage by foreign carriers
Amupanda further alleged that his team’s investigations found that the truck had not received permission from the ministry of works and transport to undertake the delivery.
“So how did that truck come into Osona and deliver goods and services?” he questioned.
“How can a foreign truck enter our base and deliver goods? What if there was a bomb?” he asked.
Beyond the security implications, Amupanda alleged that the truck was not charged the applicable taxes and levies associated with the fuel supply and transport transaction.
He questioned whether the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA), Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVA Fund), Roads Fund Administration (RFA) and National Energy Fund (NEF) received the payments due to them.
“So the government lost revenue, fuel was possibly stolen,” he alleged, questioning the availability of documentation relating to the truck’s entry into Namibia and the delivery.
Amupanda also questioned why the truck allegedly operated without visible company identification, contrasting this with the strict enforcement measures that ordinary motorists and commercial operators face on Namibian roads.
He further linked the alleged irregularities to August 26’s reported change of banking arrangements from Nedbank to Bank Windhoek, suggesting that the move was connected to the alleged corruption.
Meanwhile, August 26 Holdings’ acting chief executive, David Brown, has previously responded to allegations surrounding the company’s defence ministry fuel contract, denying corruption and overcharging.
The company has also cited delayed government payments for fuel deliveries.
Photos: Contributed
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