Renthia Kaimbi
Two senior TransNamib Holdings Limited (TransNamib) executives suspended earlier this year over allegations of property mismanagement and statutory breaches returned to work on Tuesday.
This followed a directive from works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi.
Webster Gonzo, executive for human capital and Alynsia Platt, executive for properties, resumed their duties after the newly appointed TransNamib board was instructed to facilitate their return.
Nekundi had previously raised concern over the continued payment of full salaries to suspended executives who were not performing duties for the company.
Nekundi confirmed their return to the Windhoek Observer yesterday.
“They are back at work and the disciplinary hearing is continuing,” Nekundi said.
The Windhoek Observer previously reported that the former board suspended Gonzo and Platt in February following a forensic investigation into alleged property mismanagement, property disposal irregularities and statutory breaches.
At that time, Nekundi stated that he approved the suspensions because new forensic findings supported earlier concerns raised against Platt in July 2025.
The forensic report was compiled by lawyer Chris Moller, an advocate of the High Court of South Africa and former head of forensics and integrity services at Ernst and Young Namibia.
The Windhoek Observer understands that Moller had also investigated the same executives in 2023, but those findings were reportedly dismissed by the then ministers of finance and public enterprises, the TransNamib board and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Sources told the Windhoek Observer that the investigation leading to the February suspensions also examined the involvement of an active board member in a N$2 billion procurement deal for 23 locomotives.
The locomotive procurement process came under scrutiny in May 2025 when Nekundi cancelled the tender, citing geopolitical risks linked to single-source manufacturing and ordering the process to restart.
The decision followed criticism from Job Amupanda, who described the transaction as a possible “corrupt last-minute deal”.
This week, TransNamib announced the relaunch of the same locomotive deal.
Questions have also emerged around the appointment of TransNamib chief executive officer Desmond Van Jaarsveld.
A 2023 shortlisting report by Capacity Trust stated that the chief executive position required a Master of Business Administration degree, while Van Jaarsveld holds a master of science degree in food microbiology.
The report shortlisted Van Jaarsveld together with Martin Inkumbi of GIPF, Jerome Mutumba of DBN and Festus Hangula of NamPost.
The report noted that most shortlisted candidates lacked clear transport sector experience.
Van Jaarsveld’s curriculum vitae (CV) lists previous leadership positions at Namibia Breweries Limited and Safland.
The Windhoek Observer also received allegations that he was placed on sabbatical at Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) and later asked to leave Safland before completing his contracts.
A source told the Windhoek Observer that the return of Gonzo and Platt raises new questions about the disciplinary process.
“With the minister now directly intervening to bring the two executives back, and with the newly appointed board instructed to ensure their resumption of duty, it remains unclear whether the underlying forensic findings will ever result in formal disciplinary action,” the source said.
The source added that while concerns over paying suspended executives were understandable, the intervention places the new board in a difficult position because the previous suspensions were based on a forensic report approved by the minister himself.
“We are wondering whether the property mismanagement allegations that prompted the probe have been resolved, abandoned, or simply set aside in favour of political convenience,” the source said.
TransNamib corporate communications manager Alina Garises also confirmed the executives returned to work on Tuesday.
“The investigations have been concluded, and the affected executives have returned to work on 26 May. Internal disciplinary processes are proceeding in accordance with TransNamib’s disciplinary policy and established procedures,” Garises said.
