Cape Times E-dition

Ramaphosa to share stage with Namibian president Geingob

NICOLA DANIELS nicola.daniels@inl.co.za

FOR the first time since the Farmgate saga made global headlines, President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Namibian counterpart Hage Geingob are expected to share the same platform and preside over the signing of several bilateral agreements during the third session of the Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Windhoek.

The meeting, to take place from June 28 to July 1, comes amid mounting pressure on both presidents to reveal details of the theft of about $4 million (more than R61m at the time) “concealed” in furniture at Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm in February 2020, by a gang of Namibian nationals, assisted by Ramaphosa’s domestic worker.

The men, including the alleged mastermind, Imanuela David, allegedly fled to Namibia where they spent their loot buying properties including guest houses, among other things. Ramaphosa is alleged to have enlisted Geingob’s services to track the suspects down and brought them back to the country where they were allegedly kidnapped, assaulted and bribed for their silence.

A second Namibian official, sergeant Hendrick Nghede, has been placed on leave for allegedly aiding David to enter Namibia illegally.

Namibian justice ministry spokesperson Simon Idipo told the Cape Times yesterday that they were still dealing with the matter and would issue a statement about the request made to South Africa to share information regarding the incident.

While Geingob has distanced himself from the allegations, Ramaphosa has yet to talk about the theft, other than confirming that it was reported to his head of security and not the police.

Next week’s session also comes as South Africa and Namibia continue to contradict each other about the existence or a request for this country’s Justice Department to share information with its neighbours about the incident after obtaining a preservation order to

try has exited the recent spike or 5th wave which the current limited regulations were promulgated to mitigate.”

Pro-choice activist Debbie Els said the announcement was a small victory for them after leading several protests against Covid-19 regulations, mandatory vaccines and vaccine passports last year.

“We were assaulted and arrested throughout these two years of lockdown while we fought for our rights.

“The police attacked me and four other women and a child.

“We said there were no scientific reasons for all these regulations.

“Yet so many suffered due to ignorance and power hungry politicians,” she said.

Premier Alan Winde said it was time to move on and learn to live with Covid-19.

“It is now up to all residents to use the lessons they have learnt over the past two years to keep themselves safe.

“It is about individual responsibility.

“We have shown our health system has the capabilities and so we no longer require any further curbs which have been throttling our economic potential.”

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2022-06-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-06-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://capetimes.pressreader.com/article/281479280093954

African News Agency