Emrico Blaauw

Emrico Blaauw — Keetmanshoop mayor elected July 2026, formerly ||Kharas Football Region chairman until resigning over statutory conflict.

2026-03-112026-10-22

News reports

Order a long-term news report on Emrico Blaauw

Every mention in the Namibian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.

What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

June 2026
14 JunThe Namibian
Keetmanshoop Swapo local authority councillor Emrico Blaauw said people responsible should face the law if wrongdoing found
Source
“Keetmanshoop Swapo local authority councillor Emrico Blaauw said yesterday that the people responsible should face the law.”
ACC probes Keetmans municipality over N$3.4 million deal
May 2026
28 MayThe Namibian
Swapo councillor Emrico Blaauw said the vehicle rental arrangement is absurd
Source
“Swapo councillor for the town Emrico Blaauw last week said the vehicle rental arrangement is "absurd".”
Keetmans under fire over N$391 000 monthly vehicle rentals
March 2026
28 MarThe Namibian
Emrico Blaauw says accommodation has been secured at Suiderlig Secondary School and JA Nel Secondary School hostels
Source
“Meanwhile, ||Kharas Football chairman Emrico Blaauw says accommodation for the teams and their delegates has been secured at Suiderlig Secondary School and JA Nel Secondary School hostels.”
All set for Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup
20 MarThe Namibian
Emrico Blaauw is ||Kharas Football chairperson
Source
“||Kharas Football chairperson Emrico Blaauw says the NovaNam sponsorship came at the right time.”
NovaNam sponsors ||Kharas for Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup
11 MarThe Namibian
Emrico Blaauw is ||Kharas football region chairperson
Source
“The 24th edition of The Namibian Newspaper Cup will be hosted at Westdene Stadium at Keetmanshoop from 3 to 6 April, and ||Kharas football region chairperson Emrico Blaauw says it was a long time coming.”
||Kharas aims to host spectacular show
11 MarThe Namibian
Emrico Blaauw says bid twice before finally succeeding to host the Newspaper Cup
Source
“"Remember, we already bid twice to host this cup – first it went to Gobabis in 2024, and then last year it went to Kunene, but now we were successful, so it was a three-year project this time around," he says.”
||Kharas aims to host spectacular show

Politics

Keetmanshoop municipality unable to pay October salaries, minister denies bailout

The News

The Keetmanshoop municipality cannot pay its employees for October and has a nearly N$100 million debt to NamWater. Urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa confirmed the crisis and refused a government bailout, saying the council's financial problems resulted from its own actions, and also questioned three councillors' travel to Cape Town without ministerial approval while salaries remain unpaid.

21 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Yesterday

Keetmanshoop municipality unable to pay October salaries, minister denies bailout
The Keetmanshoop municipality cannot pay its employees for October and has a nearly N$100 million debt to NamWater. Urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa confirmed the crisis and refused a government bailout, saying the council's financial problems resulted from its own actions, and also questioned three councillors' travel to Cape Town without ministerial approval while salaries remain unpaid.
21 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Tuesday 6 October

Neckartal Dam progress stalls amid southern water security concerns
Keetmanshoop and ||Kharas leaders say the Neckartal Dam project has not delivered expected agricultural opportunities and economic development, with the municipality citing insufficient water supply from existing sources to meet growing demand and exploring alternative water sources including groundwater studies.
6 October 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 14 September

Namibia holds national prayer day against gender-based violence
Namibia observed National Prayer Day across towns and villages on Saturday under the theme "Seeking Divine Intervention for Behavioural Change," with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah warning that prayer alone cannot end gender-based violence and must be matched by government performance and action from families, communities, and institutions.
14 September 2026 · New Era →

Thursday 27 August

Ten-year-old dies under municipal water truck in Keetmanshoop
Mohammed Austin, a Grade 3 pupil at Don Bosco Primary School, was run over by a municipal water truck at Paradise informal settlement in Keetmanshoop on Sunday. Keetmanshoop mayor Emrico Blaauw says the municipality is cooperating with law enforcement in investigating the death, and no arrest has been made.
27 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 18 July

Swapo councillor Blaauw elected Keetmanshoop mayor
The Keetmanshoop municipal council has elected Swapo councillor Emrico Blaauw as the town's new mayor, with Beata Set as deputy mayor. The election follows the recall of LPM mayor Melody Swartbooi in June.
18 July 2026 · The Namibian →
IPC withdraws Keetmanshoop councillor for party directive violations
The Independent Patriots for Change has withdrawn councillor Pieter Skeyer from the Keetmanshoop Town Council, citing alleged violations of party directives. Skeyer, who served six months, said his decisions were based on personal conviction and will now focus on his role as school principal.
18 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 10 July

||Kharas football region chairman resigns citing statutory conflict
Emrico Blaauw has resigned as ||Kharas Football Region chairman, citing that his simultaneous service as a Keetmanshoop Municipality councillor contravenes the Namibia Sports Act and NFA statutes. He recommends the vice chairperson assume the role until the next elections.
10 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 25 June

Keetmanshoop acting CEO removed over procurement breach allegations
The acting chief executive of Keetmanshoop municipality was recalled by councillors over alleged financial non-compliance, including a financial services company appointed without following procurement procedures and incomplete financial records. The municipality is also facing legal and governance challenges, including a court dispute over its management committee composition.
25 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 18 June

LPM leader dismisses Keetmanshoop mayor over councillor vote
The Landless People's Movement leader Bernadus Swartbooi dismissed ousted Keetmanshoop mayor Melody Swartbooi after she allegedly failed to ensure a motion of no confidence against two fellow LPM councillors was brought to council, with derogatory WhatsApp messages and audio recordings revealing long-standing tensions between them.
18 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 14 June

ACC investigates Keetmanshoop municipality electricity contract deal
The Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating the Keetmanshoop Municipality over alleged irregularities in a N$3.4-million service level agreement awarded to JJF Investments and Bellatrix SME Finance for the supply of prepaid electricity meters. The Ministry of Finance also launched an investigation after receiving information alleging non-compliance with the Public Procurement Act.
14 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 28 May

Keetmanshoop municipality spends N$391,000 monthly on vehicle rentals
Keetmanshoop municipality pays N$391,000 a month to rent 26 vehicles from Avis Fleet, including a Mercedes-Benz for the mayor, prompting criticism from councillors who call the expenditure wasteful given the municipality's financial constraints.
28 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 28 March

24th Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup set for April
The youth development tournament, bringing together under-20 football and netball teams from all 14 regions, is scheduled for 3–6 April in Keetmanshoop with over 1,000 players and delegates expected. Organisers say preparations are nearly complete, with infrastructure improvements including renovated facilities, new soccer fields and netball courts, and accommodation secured across local schools and town venues.
28 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 20 March

NovaNam sponsors ||Kharas under-20 team for football tournament
Fishing company NovaNam has donated supplies to the ||Kharas under-20 football team preparing for the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup. The ||Kharas Football chairperson says the sponsorship came at a crucial time and called on regional businesses to support youth sports and community development.
20 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 11 March

||Kharas to host Namibian Newspaper Cup football tournament April
The ||Kharas region will host the 24th edition of The Namibian Newspaper Cup at Westdene Stadium in Keetmanshoop from 3 to 6 April after winning hosting rights on their third bid attempt. The region has completed stadium renovations including new lighting and resurfaced fields, and aims to replicate the success of their previous 2012 hosting while competing to win the tournament for the second time since 2019.
11 March 2026 · The Namibian →