Also known as: Executive director of sport Gerard Vries
Executive director at the Department of Youth, Sport and National Service under Namibia's education ministry, overseeing sport development and departmental restructuring.
News reports
Order a long-term news report on Gerard Vries
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Windhoek Observer
Executive director Gerard Vries disclosed ministry was in discussions with NamPost about distributing Namibia Youth Credit Scheme funding
“Vries also disclosed that the ministry was in discussions with NamPost about distributing funding under the Namibia Youth Credit Scheme.”
Govt identifies skills gaps in five-year learning planInformanté
Gerard Vries said the exposure from the tournament could have impacts extending well beyond the event itself
“"The exposure that will emanate from this will reverberate for a number of years," Vries said.”
Namibia to host Cricket World Cup opener seriesWindhoek Observer
The ministry's executive director, Gerard Vries said the NDP5 Terminal Review recorded sport's contribution to employment at 1%
“The ministry's executive director, Gerard Vries, said the NDP5 Terminal Review recorded sport's contribution to employment at 1%, despite the sector's potential.”
YOUNG OBSERVER | Government targets 3.5% employment contribution from sportNew Era
Gerard Vries said new legislation on this matter is needed to introduce the proposed sports levy.
“"As such, new legislation on this matter is needed," Vries said, while asking the NFA to exercise patience as the matter receives further consideration.”
Sport Act amendment for levy – VriesThe Namibian
Executive director Gerard Vries described the exercise as an important step towards building an effective and responsive department.
“Officially opening the workshop yesterday, executive director Gerard Vries described the exercise as an important step towards building an effective and responsive department capable of implementing the government's priorities on youth empowerment and sport development.”
Shaping up sport service deliveryThe Namibian
Vries said Swapo's manifesto identifies sport as second national priority and youth as third.
“He said Swapo's manifesto identifies sport as the second national priority and youth as the third, highlighting the government's commitment to both sectors as key drivers of socio-economic development.”
Shaping up sport service deliveryThe Namibian
Gerard Vries instructed the Namibia Sports Commission to communicate the funding suspension decision to all recognised sport bodies
“This is contained in a letter dated 15 June from executive director Gerard Vries, which instructs the Namibia Sports Commission to communicate the decision to all recognised sport bodies with immediate effect.”
Govt funding freeze ‘setback’ for sportNew Era
Gerard Vries revealed Namibia's sports investment could rise to N$68.5 million if additional N$50 million is released
“Namibia's investment in sport could rise to N$68.5 million this year if an additional N$50 million earmarked in the national budget is released, executive director in the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture Gerard Vries has revealed.”
Additional N$50 million could lift govt’s sports investmentNew Era
Gerard Vries signed directive instructing Namibia Sports Commission to suspend all new requests for financial assistance from national sport federations
“In a directive signed by Vries, the ministry informed the NSC that it is currently unable to consider any new requests for financial support.”
Additional N$50 million could lift govt’s sports investmentThe Namibian
Gerard Vries says the figure of about N$330 million is incorrect
“Executive director of sport, youth and national service Gerard Vries says the figure of about N$330 million is incorrect.”
Independence Stadium consultant fee sparks N$337m controversyNamibia's education ministry has identified learning outcome gaps and skills mismatches as key challenges in its new five-year strategic plan, pledging to address youth unemployment through a National Human Resources Development Strategy and better workforce preparation.
13 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia's education ministry has identified learning outcome gaps and skills mismatches as key challenges in its new five-year strategic plan, pledging to address youth unemployment through a National Human Resources Development Strategy and better workforce preparation.
13 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia will host the opening Super Series of the 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek, with three qualifying matches on 2, 4, and 6 October, followed by three Group Stage matches beginning 8 October. The event is expected to boost Namibia's international profile, tourism, and interest in cricket among young people.
4 October 2026 · Informanté →
The Namibian government aims for sport to contribute 3.5% to employment under the Sixth National Development Plan, up from 1% in the previous plan, as part of a push to professionalise the sector and create sustainable careers for athletes, coaches, administrators and others.
18 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Namibia Football Association has proposed amending the Sports Act to establish a monthly N$10 sports levy (N$5 each from employees and employers) to fund sport sustainably, but the Ministry of Education says new legislation may be required to introduce such a mechanism.
9 September 2026 · New Era →
The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture is holding a week-long restructuring workshop in Ongwediva (6–11 July) to align the Department of Youth, Sport and National Service with its expanded mandate. Executive director Gerard Vries said the exercise aims to build an effective department capable of implementing government priorities on youth empowerment and sport development.
7 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's sport bodies have condemned the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture's decision to suspend all financial support to recognised sport federations and umbrella organisations, calling it a serious setback that threatens athlete development, competitions and employment. The suspension came after the ministry cited mounting financial constraints in a letter dated 15 June, despite having set aside approximately N$13.5 million for sport development programmes in April.
7 July 2026 · The Namibian →
An additional N$50 million earmarked in the national budget could lift Namibia's sports investment to N$68.5 million this year, with funding directed towards elite athlete development, international competition preparation, and the Podium Performance Programme targeting the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
7 July 2026 · New Era →
A consultant hired to advise on renovating Windhoek's Independence Stadium is set to earn about N$337 million – more than three times the government's budgeted amount – through a 17.5% fee on the estimated N$2 billion project cost, which industry experts say is unusually high.
2 July 2026 · The Namibian →
A legal advisor at the City of Windhoek is facing assault charges for allegedly striking a teacher at Ella du Plessis Secondary School with a stick during an incident on school premises. The confrontation arose after a dispute involving the advisor's son and the teacher.
24 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The controversy over Uhuru Dempers' position at the National Youth Council has become a broader question of transparency and accountability within the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture. While attendance records confirm Dempers attended NYC meetings and exercised influence on behalf of Minister Sanet Steenkamp, the ministry insists he is merely an independent temporary consultant rather than a special advisor, but this terminological distinction does not address underlying concerns about his involvement in strategic meetings and policy discussions.
10 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Education minister Sanet Steenkamp has been accused of irregularly appointing Uhuru Dempers as her special advisor on youth matters and paying him without following proper recruitment procedures. Sources claim Dempers has been attending meetings on the minister's behalf since October 2025 and allegedly lobbied on behalf of an interim board at a National Youth Council meeting in ways not provided for by the NYC Act.
10 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The National Youth Service has operated with only four board members for more than a year, below the statutory minimum of seven prescribed by the NYS Act 6 of 2005. A governance expert warned the arrangement creates compliance concerns and heightens governance risks, with sources fearing resolutions passed under the current arrangement could be deemed void.
4 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The government is expected to start the procurement process for a contractor to redevelop Independence Stadium in Windhoek during the second quarter of the current financial year, with the stadium currently at the final design and documentation stage. The project is one of five stadiums planned across the country to be upgraded to Confederation of African Football category three standards, to be implemented in phases.
24 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Twamanguluka youth organisation and the ministry of youth have launched a national Youth Centre Revitalisation Project to transform youth centres into integrated hubs offering education, healthcare, enterprise development, sports, technology and employment pathways. Pilot programmes will begin in Katima Mulilo, Rundu and Gobabis.
21 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa has warned against political and administrative power struggles as the government decentralises youth empowerment, sports promotion and development planning functions to all 14 regional councils, with 327 staff members expected to be seconded during the transition. Sankwasa stressed that decentralisation cannot succeed if institutions compete for authority and called for clarity on reporting lines and responsibilities between governors, regional councils and decentralised staff.
15 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Ministry of Education has sought legal advice to cancel a lease agreement for an unoccupied Independence Avenue building that has cost the state N$1.1 million monthly since 2024. The building, leased from northern businessman Erastus 'Chicco' Shapumba since December 2023, was found unsuitable for office use and remains empty.
11 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture said it had not appointed the Roads Contractor Company to source funding from the Development Bank of Namibia for sport stadiums, nor was it aware of or party to any loan application by the RCC. The ministry said it remains the custodian of sport infrastructure development and is implementing its national programme with N$5 million per facility as part of phase 1 of a long-term, phased approach.
8 April 2026 · The Namibian →
The government has awarded Roads Contractor Company (RCC) a N$140-million project to build sport facilities across Namibia's 14 regions, bypassing standard public procurement rules under a presidential fast-track exemption. The decision has drawn criticism from industry groups and opposition politicians over transparency and accountability, though officials argue the project follows existing legal frameworks and incorporates oversight mechanisms.
5 March 2026 · The Namibian →
At a sport federations' assembly, Minister Sanet Steenkamp called on federations to remain disciplined, transparent and united, emphasizing that the government has allocated N$750 million to sport within a three-year framework and expects accountability in financial management and governance. Executive director Gerard Vries stressed the need for financial prudence and collaboration among stakeholders, noting that internal division weakens progress while unity strengthens impact.
2 March 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture has paid an estimated N$27.5 million in rental fees over 25 months for a Windhoek office building owned by Erastus Shapumba that remains unoccupied since the lease was signed in December 2023. The Works and Transport Minister confirmed the government cannot easily terminate the contract despite ongoing construction delays and a subsequent ministry merger in March 2025 that contributed to the delayed relocation.
17 February 2026 · New Era →
A N$11.6 million hostel accommodating 60 learners was officially opened in Gochas by education minister Sanet Steenkamp, donated by Spanish non-profit Foundawtion in response to an initiative by retired principal Theo-Paulina Goliath to improve living conditions for students in the community.
26 January 2026 · New Era →