Zorena Jantze
TRANSNAMIB Director and Chairperson of TransNamib board Lionel Matthews along with Sigrid Tjijorokisa (deputy-chairperson) resigned with immediate effect yesterday, amidst the ongoing strike action by employees of the national rail company and reports of irregular payments to senior executives.
The resignation of Matthews comes a few days after promises to turn around the embattled SOE, by buying new rolling stock to increase production and revenue.
The chairperson of the board, Matthews yesterday stated that there is a continued demand to remove the current CEO and some Executives by the Union based on an Ernst & Young (EY) report that still is not finalized.
“The Deputy Chair is of the view that the Board is compromised to decide to renew the contract of the CEO for another Five years. A view that I disagree with. The current Deputy Chair had made some personal attacks and what appears to be slanderous remarks towards a particular director. I will not allow my reputation and my character to be drawn into question by the Union in public. I was appointed on 8 February 2022, and where TransNamib is, is not my doing; it is the mismanagement that happened by those who came before me,” Matthews said.
Giving her reasons for resigning, the vice Chairperson of the board, Tjijorokisa stated that she feels the current circumstances and developments at Transnamib are illustrative of a total lack of governance within the organization, with the Department of Public Enterprises and at board level.
She added that during her tenure she tried to correct foundational issues which eventually led to the rescue of Swakopmund Hotel and Entertainment Centre and the appointment of Ernst & Young to investigate certain irregularities within the organization.
“In a communication dated 4 March 2022, the then Honorable Minister of Public Enterprises, Mr. Leon Jooste, informed me that “many of the allegations forming the subject matter of this investigation are relevant”. This communication has been shared with the board,” Tjijorokisa detailed
Subsequent to this the report was handed over to the new Chairperson.
She noted that the new Chairperson elected not to share this report with the board.
“This was condoned by the board in a meeting with the Department of Public Enterprises against my objection. It is my firm view that a board that governs whilst being aware of material irregularities by senior executives is not a board. Likewise, a department that is aware of material irregularities but is of the view that the investigation report belongs to it and that it has no obligation to share this with the board, is certainly one that then has effectively deprived the board of its ability to exercise proper oversight and of its ability to carry out its fiduciary duties.” Tjijorokisa said.
She further noted that she will only reconsider her design to resign if the current board is removed and a new board is appointed that embraces proper governance principles.
“It is regrettable that such a strategic national asset is being compromised. The total lack of accountability, governance and transparency by the board and the Department of Public enterprises is regrettable. As directors we exercise a fiduciary duty, and I am of the view the board is no longer acting in the best interests of this organization nor are the directors exercising their fiduciary obligations. I can no longer associate myself with this without becoming complicit.” Tjijorokisa said.
