Justicia Shipena
The Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) wants to increase its civil claim against former executive for livestock production and procurement Patrick Liebenberg from N$6.1 million to more than N$7.5 million.
Meatco accuses Liebenberg of fraud, theft and misappropriation of company funds.
According to a notice of intention to amend particulars of claim filed by Meatco’s legal representatives, Tjombe Incorporated, on Wednesday, the state-owned meat producer wants to expand its case before the High Court by adding new allegations and increasing the amount being claimed.
In the amendment, Meatco says its claim is based mainly on breach of contract and alternatively on delict under common law.
“The plaintiff’s claim is founded in common law and based on a breach of contract or, alternatively, in delict,” the document states.
Meatco also wants to formally attach Liebenberg’s employment contract to the court papers.
The contract shows he was appointed as executive for livestock production and procurement on a five-year agreement starting on 1 June 2021.
According to the employment documents seen by the Windhoek Observer, Liebenberg’s annual salary package increased from about N$962 000 to about N$1.15 million after his appointment to the executive position.
The proposed amendments accuse Liebenberg of allegedly stealing or misappropriating company funds between 2024 and 2025 through various livestock procurement transactions.
Meatco alleges that around 28 February 2025, Liebenberg misappropriated about N$1.9 million by allegedly failing to return company funds and falsely recording that the money had been handed to a Meatco employee identified as Ellis Mbuende.
The company further alleges that between January 2025 and 14 July 2025, Liebenberg misappropriated another N$2.53 million and an additional N$1.11 million in separate transactions.
Meatco also accuses Liebenberg of allegedly recording false cattle procurement transactions to deceive the company and inflate payment amounts.
One allegation involves a supposed purchase of 70 cattle from a supplier identified as G Kamuserandu for about N$608 000 and transport costs of N$6 360.
Meatco claims no such transaction took place and alleges that about N$614 000 was misappropriated.
Another allegation relates to the purchase of 65 cattle from J N Tjitemisa in October 2024. Meatco claims the actual transaction amounted to about N$807 000 and not about N$860 000 as allegedly recorded, resulting in a difference of about N$54 000.
The company further alleges that transactions involving suppliers identified as V Hei, A K Kuhanga, E Kazombiaze, Angolo Farming, J Kuhanga, W Maharero, A Tjijorokisa, E Kavei, E Kazetjiirua, W Ngapuhua and E Maarere were allegedly falsified or inflated.
According to Meatco, the allegedly inflated or false transactions involved cattle purchases and transport payments amounting to hundreds of thousands of Namibia dollars.
In one of the claims, Meatco alleges that a transaction involving the supposed purchase of 35 cattle from E Maarere and transport costs never took place, resulting in an alleged loss of about N$508 000.
The amended claim further states that Liebenberg allegedly acted “wrongfully, unlawfully, intentionally, fraudulently, and without the knowledge and/or consent of the plaintiff.”
Meatco now wants the amount in dispute changed from about N$6.1 million to more than N$7.5 million throughout the court papers and in the final relief sought from the court.
“Kindly take further notice that should you wish to object to the intended amendment, you must file your objections within 10 days of the date of this notice,” the document states.
The notice was signed by Meatco’s legal practitioner Norman Tjombe and served on Liebenberg’s lawyers, Köpplinger Boltman Van Greunen.
The High Court has now given Liebenberg an opportunity to formally oppose the proposed amendments in the ongoing legal dispute.
Liebenberg may file an objection to the proposed amendments if he wishes to challenge them by 10 June.
In July last year, Meatco’s board suspended its acting chief executive, Patrick Liebenberg, pending investigations.
In March this year, a disciplinary notice issued by Meatco alleged that Liebenberg, who served as executive for livestock production and procurement, misappropriated company funds meant to pay cattle producers and falsified records of livestock transactions.
Liebenberg is facing 26 disciplinary charges, including allegations that he misappropriated more than N$5.5 million.
He is also accused of fraud, forgery and sabotage linked to 900 missing cattle at the parastatal through Linden Beef Feedlot.
Linden Beef Feedlot is owned by businessman David van der Linden, who was contracted to feed and care for the animals before slaughter and processing.
Van der Linden made headlines in 2025 after being arrested in connection with a N$52 million cannabis plantation on Farm Eendrag between Hochfeld and Osire in the Khomas region.
Linden Beef Feedlot entered into a feeding contract with Meatco in 2023.
Van der Linden and his co-accused, South African national and farm manager Armand Schultz, remain in custody.
According to the contract, Van der Linden’s company would collect cattle from communal farmers in regions south of the veterinary cordon fence.
Earlier this year, Meatco instructed Linden Beef CC to immediately stop the sale of 900 cattle it says were wrongfully attached during a liquidation process.
