The TransNamib board said daily operations will proceed unhindered and operational matters will continue as per usual while Kristian Hamutenya acts as chief executive officer.
The board said the decision was made with the necessary due process and in concurrence with the Minister of Works and Transport.
- TransNamib’s board has placed Chief Executive Officer Desmond Van Jaarsveld and Engineering and Technical Services executive Bertus Eksteen on precautionary leave pending an independent investigation.
- Kristian Hamutenya is acting chief executive officer while the process continues.
- The board said the decision followed due process and was taken in concurrence with the Minister of Works and Transport.
- The board described the suspension of the two executives as a necessary procedural step that does not represent any finding of guilt.
- TransNamib said daily operations will proceed unhindered.
- TransNamib confirmed the dismissal of executive human capital Webster Gonzo with immediate effect from 26 October, and said he has the right to appeal.
TransNamib has suspended Chief Executive Officer, Desmond Van Jaarsveld and executive for Engineering and Technical Services Bertus Eksteen and placed them on precautionary leave pending an independent investigation, the company’s board of directors confirmed the suspension.
The board further announced that the company will be under the stewardship of Kristian Hamutenya, as the acting chief executive officer.
The board said it took the decision to place the Chief Executive Officer and the Executive Engineering and Technical Services on precautionary leave pending the finalisation of an independent investigation.
The decision has been made with the necessary due process followed and in concurrence with the Minister of Works and Transport, the board said.
The daily operations of the company will proceed unhindered and operational matters will continue as per usual, the board said.
The board said the suspension of the two executives was a necessary procedural step to ensure an objective and thorough process, and it does not represent any finding of guilt.
To protect the privacy of everyone involved and the integrity of the process, TransNamib said it will not be sharing further details at this time.
Late last month, TransNamib confirmed the dismissal of its executive human capital, Webster Gonzo, with immediate effect.
The dismissal of Gonzo follows a finding of guilt on several disciplinary charges of gross negligence and a charge of breach of the company code of conduct and ethics.
The company said the internal disciplinary proceedings followed after an internal audit investigation during 2025 and 2026 into the alienation project undertaken by the company, and the findings of a subsequent external forensic investigation that was authorised by the former board in 2025.
The dismissal of Gonzo was with immediate effect as from 26 October. The company said Gonzo has the right to appeal in line with the Company’s policies.
TransNamib has also confirmed that this investigation has been reported to the Anti-Corruption Commission in June 2026 who has approved this case for further investigation.
