Renthia Kaimbi
Erongo Governor Nathalia /Goagoses has condemned a petition calling her the “root of all evil”, describing it as a defamatory personal attack rather than a legitimate governance complaint.
Speaking at a press conference in Swakopmund yesterday, the governor said she was petitioned by a group of 10 people led by one Stanislaus Napuka, who claimed to speak on behalf of the Daure Daman traditional community.
The petition titled ‘Petition for Governor’s Removal’, dated 1 June 2026 and addressed to the Office of the Governor, accused /Goagoses of dishonourably disrespecting the Council of Elders by creating a position that is not found in the Daure Daman customary laws.
“To call me, Nathalia, a corrupt governor to be removed, is definitely uncalled for,” she said.
“This is defamation of my character and this is tarnishing my reputation as a leader who came to unite the people of this region.”
The governor explained that the group’s notice of petition was initially submitted to the Mondesa Police Station in Swakopmund on 2 June 2026.
She said she immediately notified both the station commander and the regional commander of her unavailability for 10 June 2026 due to prior official commitments that had already been confirmed.
In a letter dated 8 June 2026 addressed to Regional Commander Nikolaus Kupembona, /Goagoses wrote: “Kindly be informed that I will not be available to receive the petition on 10 June 2026 due to prior official commitments.”
Despite this notification, the group showed up at her office yesterday to make what she termed “noise”.
The governor stressed that the issues raised in the petition had nothing to do with governance concerns or administrative matters, but rather amounted to personal attacks on her persona.
“And I condemn this in all earnestness,” she said.
According to the petition, the Daure Daman clan elected their chief, Isaskar Taurob, on 12 August 2025, with 410 votes and 98 Elders Council membership, alongside six traditional councillors who are paid by the government.
The petition alleges that /Goagoses refused to sign the required forms following a courtesy call on 30 October 2025, and claims that the governor instead delivered a message that President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah allegedly ordered her to communicate to degazetted former chief, Sagarias Seibeb.
The petition further accuses the governor of promoting an unelected individual, Herman Naruseb, as chief of the Daure Daman community at a National Heritage gathering held by the ministry of education in January, while the elected chief Taurob, was apparently left out.
/Goagoses took particular issue with these accusations.
“Whoever came to that meeting has nothing to do with me. I don’t decide which community members or which chief must come,” she stressed.
“I have no business in their community affairs. When we come to invite community leaders… I have no right whatsoever to exclude any member.”
She further dismissed as untrue the claim that she promoted unelected traditional leaders.
“It is untrue and I therefore demand credible evidence from this certain Napuka, who has no right to come and attack me as a person. I don’t even know in what capacity he is doing this,” she said.
The petition also demands the closure of the Daure Daman Traditional Authority office, the suspension of all traditional councillors, and an appointment with the President by August 2026.
It further demands that the governor sign what it calls the “annexure C form”, asserting it is the community’s right to appoint its own chief and councillors.
The governor denied allegations that she is corrupt or has created disunity within the Daure Daman community. The petition claims she was removed from her previous post as chief regional officer of the Erongo region and accuses her of being “the root of all evil” within the Daure Daman clan.
It also alleges that on 30 October 2025, she told the Elders Council she would not discuss traditional matters with them while having spent the entire morning with Seibeb.
“When have I caused division, so much so, that I apparently was fired by the late president Hage Geingob as CRO, according to their document?” /Goagoses asked.
“This is my name being tarnished to the core and something that I will never accept.”
She demanded evidence of her alleged removal as CRO, reiterating that the document before her was not a legitimate petition but a personal attack that should never have been entertained by law enforcement.
“Law enforcement was listening when this governor was personally being attacked. I was accused of being corrupt. I was accused of creating disunity. I was accused of being removed as CRO by nine people. Nine people and Mr. Napuka, who was entertained by the police in this region,” she stressed.
Due to the deeply personal nature of the petition, /Goagoses said she has consulted her legal counsel for advice on the way forward.
“I need to protect my name which I have carried in public service for more than 45 years,” she stated.
