Staff Reporter
CORNELIUS ‘Cedric’ Willemse, the former manager of supply and logistics at the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) Ltd Pty, has brought a review application in the High Court seeking to compel the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform to make a decision on the purchase of a farm he owns in the Hardap Region.
The government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, in September 2025 exercised its statutory right of first refusal, which affords the government first preference in the sale of farmland before it is offered for sale to other parties.
After valuations, the Land Reform Ministry offered to purchase Farm Groot Driehoekvlakte No. 817 for N$3 million.
The Agriculture Ministry, however, stalled the transaction after it learned that Willemse was the subject of criminal investigations and that the property itself was the subject of proceedings contemplated under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.
“The Anti-Corruption Commission further advised that the property formed part of the assets sought to be preserved pending the outcome of those proceedings and recommended that the Ministry refrain from releasing public funds for the sale transaction in respect of this subject pending the finalisation of the restraint proceedings. These developments fundamentally altered the legal position confronting the transaction, as the contemplated transaction could no longer proceed in the ordinary course because the Government had become aware that the property intended to be acquired with public funds was allegedly connected to criminal proceedings involving the unlawful acquisition of State resources and was the subject of intended restraint proceedings,” Inge Zaamwani-Kamwi, the Agriculture Minister, said in an answering affidavit.
In June 2026, the High Court, however, froze assets linked to Willemse, which include Farm Groot Driehoekvlakte No. 817.
The order covers Farm Groot Driehoekvlakte, a 1 933-hectare property in the Hardap Region, and a Toyota Land Cruiser with registration number RDB763H belonging to Willemse.
Subsequent to the institution of the current proceedings, which seek to compel the government to make a decision on the purchase of the farm, Willemse filed a further affidavit indicating that he intends to seek the rescission of the preservation order granted in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, 29 of 2004, seeking to overturn the freezing of the assets.
Zaamwani, however, argued that Willemse’s intention to institute rescission proceedings does not affect the issues for determination in this review application. “Unless and until the preservation order is rescinded or set aside by a court of competent jurisdiction, it remains valid and binding,” she said.
In his arguments, Willemse, however, contends that the central issue in this application is not limited to whether a final contract was concluded, but whether the Land Reform Ministry, having exercised its statutory right of first refusal, may lawfully delay or avoid taking a final decision indefinitely.
“Almost four months after accepting the offer for the sale of my property, the Respondents have failed and/or refused to take a decision on the signature of the sale agreement. The inaction in this matter is excessive and unjustified. Such delay renders administrative conduct wrongful and unlawful. This is reviewable administrative inaction,” Willemse argued.
He further said that the Land Reform Ministry is under a legal duty to take a decision following the exercise of its right of first refusal and that, in the absence of judicial intervention, he will remain indefinitely unable to access his property or mitigate ongoing financial loss.
“Taking into account the ongoing substantial prejudice suffered by me as a direct result of the conduct of the Respondents, I submit that it is appropriate for the court to award me an amount of N$200 000,” Willemse argued.
Photo: Cedric Willemse (Facebook)
