OSHAKATI: Namibia’s Embassy in the Kingdom of Belgium and the Netherlands, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and the Mission to the European Union held a memorial service in honour of the late President Hage Geingob on Saturday.

President Geingob died at the age of 82 on 04 February 2024 and was laid to rest on 25 February.

The memorial service was broadcast live on Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) television.

During the service, Dr Mekondjo Kaapanda-Girnus, Namibia’s Ambassador to Belgium, the Netherlands, and the European Union, described the late President Geingob as a committed freedom fighter and extinguished statesman who had a huge impact on Namibia.

She remarked that political analysts, historians, and scholars will examine and document President Geingob’s legacy for decades to come.

‘It was touching seeing people from all walks of life coming together in large numbers to invoke the power of unity which the late president used to preach,’ the ambassador said.

Additionally, Kaapanda-Girnus noted that President Geingob was a forceful, impassioned, and outspoken leader. She also emphasised his deep commitment to the principles of equality and self-determination, as well as his staunch defence of Namibians on the international stage.

Various speakers at the memorial service highlighted the late president’s wisdom, diplomatic finesse, and steadfast dedication to the welfare of Namibians.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

SAP ordered to pay SIU half a billion Rand over ‘invalid’ Eskom contracts

Monday, March 25, 2024

German software company, SAP, has been ordered by the Special Tribunal to pay some R500 million to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) within seven days following a settlement reached between the company and the unit.

According to the SIU, the settlement stems from an agreement on the validity of two Eskom contracts awarded to SAP between 2013 and 2016.

‘Eskom and SAP entered into two contracts, the Enabling Agreement and the Cloud Services Agreement, worth approximately R1.1 billion. The Special Tribunal order has also declared that the two contracts are constitutionally invalid and therefore set aside.

‘The order of the Special Tribunal is part of the implementation of the SIU investigation outcomes and consequence management to recover financial losses suffered by State institutions due to negligence or corruption. The settlement agreement does not absolve SAP or any implicated party from possible prosecu
tion,’ the SIU said.

The corruption-busting unit explained that an investigation into Eskom found that the contracts were entered into illegally.

‘Thereafter, SAP entered into a Sale Commission Agreement with CAD House CC, a Gupta-linked company. Furthermore, Eskom and SAP signed an agreement for Cloud services at a contract value of R21 712 514.82. Following payments from Eskom to SAP, CAD House received funds from SAP.

‘SIU findings revealed that the Enabling Agreement and the Cloud Services Agreement did not comply with the Public Finance Management Act, which resulted in Eskom incurring fruitless and wasteful expenditures in respect of the agreements.

‘The SIU is empowered to institute civil action in the High Court or a Special Tribunal in its name, to correct any wrongdoing uncovered during its investigations caused by acts of corruption, fraud or maladministration. In line with the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996, the SIU refers any evidence pointing to criminal con
duct to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action,’ the SIU said.

Source: South African Government News Agency