Hertta-Maria Amutenja
Fresh allegations have surfaced against Auas Primary School principal Toini Nauyoma and Groot Aub Junior Primary School principal Natangwe Shingenge, with community members accusing them of cultural insensitivity, unfair recruitment, and administrative misconduct.
The complaints were submitted in a formal letter dated 10 April, addressed to the education minister, Sanet Steenkamp, Public Service Commission (PSC) Commissioner Habate Doeses, and Ombudsman Basilius Dyakugha.
All three offices acknowledged receipt, with stamped copies seen by the Windhoek Observer.
This publication saw an email from the PSC confirming that Paulus Nghikembua, the regional education director, had received the letter.
Community activist Shaun Gariseb, who authored the letter, said Nghikembua contacted him directly and requested a meeting on Friday afternoon.
“The Director of Education, Mr Paulus Nghikembua, called me today and asked me to go see him at 15h30,” Gariseb said.
Gariseb claims that Nauyoma told teachers during a staff meeting held on 8 April not to speak to him or the media, saying the issue would soon disappear and that nothing would happen to her.
“She is wrong. But now I understand why she has that confidence and why teachers are scared. They fear victimisation.” Gariseb said.
Gariseb also called for Nauyoma to be removed from her post pending the outcome of the probe.
“These are serious allegations. The erasure of language, questionable use of funds, and spending N$40 000 on unnecessary office renovations. It’s standard practice to move someone under investigation to avoid interference,” he said.
The letter also accuses the principal of Groot Aub Junior Primary School of favouritism and misuse of authority, but fewer details have emerged in that case.
When contacted for comment, Nauyoma denied speaking to the Windhoek Observer previously and distanced herself from earlier remarks attributed to her.
“I never spoke to Windhoek Observer. You must speak to the ministry of education. This is a school-related matter,” she said.
In a previous article published by this newspaper, Nauyoma told the Observer that she was not the appropriate person to comment and referred queries to the author.
The original probe was launched after complaints from parents and community members who say the school, located in a predominantly Damara people residential area, Windhoek, is shifting away from its cultural roots by reducing the presence of Khoekhoegowab and promoting other languages, particularly Oshikwanyama.
“The situation is currently under investigation, and the ministry will provide more details once a formal report on the investigation has been issued,” ministry spokesperson Sam Shino said at the time.
Efforts to obtain a comment from the ministry’s executive director, Paulus Ngikembua, were unsuccessful by the time of publication.
