Staff Reporter
NATALIA Guriras, the Deputy Director for Programmes and Quality Assurance, who was arrested in Swakopmund yesterday by ACC officials at her office for accepting bribes, was today granted bail of N$10,000 alongside her co-accused, Betty Somses, who was also granted bail for the same amount.
The two appeared in the Swakopmund Magistrate Court, and the case was postponed to 24 August 2026 for plea and trial.
Public Relations Officer within the Anti-Corruption Commission, Marina Matundu, said that the two officials from the Directorate of Education, Arts and Culture in the Erongo Region have been arrested and charged following an investigation into alleged corrupt practices related to the admission of a staff member to a University of Namibia (UNAM) teacher training programme.
“The Commission in Swakopmund received a complaint alleging corrupt practices within the Directorate of Education, Arts and Culture at the Erongo Regional Office. It is alleged that the Directorate provided false information to the University of Namibia (UNAM) to secure the admission of Ms Betty Somses, an Administrative Officer for Hostels, into the Teachers Diploma in Junior Primary Education (DJPE INSET) programme in 2018.
The DJPE INSET programme is specifically designed for unqualified teachers currently teaching in schools and is funded by the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture (MoEAC). By enrolling Ms Somses, who is not a teacher, the Directorate allegedly acted contrary to UNAM’s admission criteria and programme requirements,” Matundu said.
Furthermore, she added that the whistleblower claimed that the Directorate falsely indicated that Ms Somses was employed as a teacher at Daleen Pre-Primary School.
“However, it is alleged that no such school exists within the Erongo Region. It is therefore alleged that the Directorate of Education, Erongo Region, provided false information to UNAM to facilitate the enrolment of an Administrative Officer in a programme intended exclusively for unqualified teachers, and further misrepresented the existence of a non-existent school as the applicant’s place of employment,” Matundu said.
Guriras, the Deputy Director for Programmes and Quality Assurance, was charged for contravening Section 43(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, 2003 (Act No. 8 of 2003) – corruptly using her office or position for gratification, whilst Betty Somses, a teacher by profession, was charged for contravening Section 35(3)(b) of the Anti-Corruption Act, 2003 (Act No. 8 of 2003) – corruptly providing false information to a public body.
“The Anti-Corruption Commission reiterates its commitment to upholding integrity and accountability within public institutions. Corruption undermines good governance and service delivery, and the ACC remains steadfast in investigating and ensuring that those involved in corrupt activities are held accountable under the law,” Matundu concluded.
Photos: Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC)
