Month: February 2024

Home Affairs offices will be open for an extra two hours on Friday, 02 February 2024, from 16:00 to 18:00 for citizens to collect their IDS.

Offices will then be open for nine hours on Saturday and Sunday from 08h00 to 17h00 for South Africans to collect their IDs.

This in support of the Electoral Commission’s second Voter Registration Weekend in preparation for the general elections of the National Assembly and Provincial Legislatures.

The Department of Home Affairs said in a statement that services to be offered are application and collection of IDs and applications for Temporary Identification Certificates (TICs). TICs cost R70 and are issued on the spot.

‘With these documents, eligible voters will be able to register for the 2024 national and provincial elections,’ said the department.

Clients can now book collection appointments before visiting Home Affairs offices, using the Branch Appointment Booking System (BABS) which is available at www.dha.gov.za through the link: BABS.

Alternatively, client
s can simply visit the offices without making a booking.

Home Affairs Deputy Minister Njabulo Nzuza said: ‘We want to assist those who need an ID to participate in the voter registration an opportunity to come and collect their documents.

‘We particularly encourage young people to come to our offices from Friday afternoon and over the weekend to come and apply or collect their documents.

‘We encourage clients who have applied for identification documents and have been waiting for three weeks or more, to seize this opportunity by visiting their Home Affairs office to collect these critical documents.’

Source: South African Government News Agency

WINDHOEK: The Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund on Wednesday announced that it recorded 158 road crashes, 335 injuries and 29 fatalities in its year-to-date statistics for the 01-28 January 2024 period.

According to a media statement issued by MVA Fund Chief Executive Officer Rosalia Hausiku, 89 people were injured and 16 people lost their lives in road traffic crashes in the past week alone.

‘MVA Fund extends its deepest condolences to the families affected by the tragic crash which occurred on the gravel road near Okashandja village, resulting in the death of eight people and injuries of many others. The safety of road users is of paramount importance to the MVA Fund as road crashes have devastating consequences that affect families, communities, and the nation at large,’ Hausiku noted.

The affected families were urged to contact the MVA Fund service centre in Ongwediva for funeral and other benefits offered by the fund.

It further said these crashes are often predictable and preventable through conscie
ntious driving, strict adherence to road traffic rules and regulations, planning long journeys and avoiding driving at night when there is limited visibility on the road.

The MVA Fund thus called for enhanced vigilance and responsible road user behaviour from all drivers.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: The Brave Warriors on Wednesday paid a courtesy call to State House, hours after their arrival from Côte d’Ivoire, where they participated in the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).

Vice President Nangolo Mbumba welcomed the team that made history by qualifying for the semi-finals, a first for Namibia. Brave Warriors defeated the 2004 Afcon champion, Tunisia.

Mbumba, in his speech, said the team showed resilience and sportsmanship in the face of very tough competition.

‘Therefore, as a nation, we acknowledge with thanks, the team’s exceptional display and achievement on the international stage, against all odds. My message to you is, no matter the result and elimination out of the tournament, lift your heads up and be proud of what you have achieved. You have done a lot, you have made history for yourselves and for your country,’ Mbumba said to the team.

He urged the Ministry of Sports, Youth and National Service to improve the country’s sport facilities to enable the youth to participate in spo
rt activities.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) has once again brushed off claims that the government’s decision to compel Namibians to register their SIM cards will lead to mass surveillance by the State.

The ministry on Wednesday dismissed an assertion by the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) that State security agencies, including the Namibia Central Intelligence Service (NCIS), might use the process to spy on the public.

‘With mandatory SIM card registration, the law, through regulations gazetted in 2021, eases and enables indiscriminate mass surveillance of the digital communications of everyone operating a SIM card or internet connection in Namibia,’ a recent IPPR research article, which was reported in the local press, indicated.

MICT Executive Director Audrin Mathe rebuffed this, saying the assertion ‘lacks merit and undermines’ the government’s effort to combat cybercrimes.

‘It is imperative to clarify that law enforcement agencies can only access SIM users’ cal
l data following a reported crime and upon issuance of a warrant by a judge,’ Mathe said in a statement.

He added that the NCIS Act of 1997 and Terrorism Act that are already in operation regulate the interception, permitting it only under judicial authorisation. ‘Therefore, mobile service providers are not authorised to intercept communications, rather, this authority lies solely with law enforcement agencies,’ he said.

The government official said the mandatory registration of SIM cards is in line with Section 73 of the Communications Act of 2009.

‘We urge the public to utilise the grace period provided and register their SIM cards before 31 March 2024 to avoid any disconnection of service,’ Mathe said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: The Lufthansa Group, through its subsidiary Discover Airlines, has rewarded Paragon Aviation Services with numerous distinctions in appreciation for Paragon Aviation Services’ (PAS) service at Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA).

The accolade is in lieu of Discover Airlines’ exemplary services.

The airline was represented by Thomas Stein, the Regional Manager of Ground Operations for Africa and Paul Havenga, Windhoek Station Manager at the award ceremony which was held on Sunday in Windhoek, Namibia.

Paragon Aviation Services is the licensed provider of ground handling services at Hosea Kutako International Airport. These services include passenger services, ramp and baggage handling, cargo services, meet and greet and private aircraft charter services.

Desmond Amunyela, Executive Director of Paragon Aviation Services, in a press release on Wednesday expressed the company’s dedication to delivering exceptional service in a safe, secure and on-time performance environment to all its custome
r airlines calling on HKIA.

”This award serves as a vote of confidence from one of our largest clients and it further cements PAS’ capacity and credibility as a competitive aviation ground handler in the region and beyond. A special thanks should go to our dedicated colleagues in various departments. The commitment of our all-Namibian workforce, highlights the company’s ability to push boundaries and offer new end-to-end logistics solutions to its clients and customers,’ Amunyela added.

He said Paragon Aviation Services began providing ground handling services at Hosea Kutako International Airport on 19 August 2023. Paragon was further praised for its steadfast efforts in bringing about a stable ground handling environment at Hosea Kutako International Airport immediately after its much-publicised precarious takeover at the airport last year, he added.

Paragon Aviation Services handles approximately 87 scheduled flights turnaround weekly as well as various private aircraft with more than 1 400 passengers
per day, Amunyela said.

The Lufthansa Group also awarded the Paragon Premium Business Lounge at HKIA with an award for providing exceptional services to its business class and loyalty club members.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: The Inspector General of the Namibian Police Force, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo, has urged commanding officers to put succession plans in place in order to guarantee a smooth transition following their retirement.

He voiced his dissatisfaction with some senior police officers who fail to identify potential successors but instead request an extension of their service.

‘It is regrettable that within our organisation, there are still people, and when it’s time for your retirement, you come to the inspector general and ask that you please give me one more year. And if you ask the reason why, they say no, I have not paid off my car or house. And on top of that, I have nobody to take over from me. But you have been commanding people for 20 or 10 years, and you have not prepared somebody to take over from you. Leadership is about preparing others,’ he said.

Shikongo made the observation during the second phase of the police mass promotion at the Israel Patrick Iyambo Police College here on Wednes
day.

‘So today if anybody comes to me and says Shikongo, who is taking over from you, I don’t think I will hesitate to say yes; all these officers are qualified because they are prepared,’ the inspector general said about the importance of succession plans.

Shikongo promoted 911 officers to various ranks, including chief inspectors, inspectors, senior inspectors, warrant officers 1 and 2, as well as sergeants 1 and 2. Out of those promoted, 421 are female, representing 46 per cent.

The police chief said the promotion was enabled by the continuous government effort in law enforcement.

‘While the government continues to play its role in providing the necessary resources through budgetary allocation, it is the duty of all of us to ensure that we complement what the government is doing by redoubling our efforts to deliver quality law enforcement services,’ said Shikongo.

To the newly promoted officers, Shikongo stressed that ‘a promotion should not be seen as a mere decoration or just a reward to an officer
or a member, but it comes with huge responsibilities over their shoulders; these include a high level of accountability, commitment, command and control, and honesty in upholding the rule of law.’

Source: The Namibia Press Agency