Gerard Vries

Also known as: Executive director of sport Gerard Vries

Gerard Vries — Executive director of the Department of Youth, Sport and National Service, overseeing sport development and federation governance.

2026-01-262026-07-21

What’s been said

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

May 2026
24 MayThe Namibian
Gerard Vries said no construction tender has been awarded for the five stadium projects yet
Source
“Executive director of education, innovation, youth, sport, arts and culture Gerard Vries last week said no construction tender has been awarded for the five stadium projects yet.”
Independence Stadium renovation set for July
24 MayThe Namibian
Gerard Vries said Independence Stadium is being rebuilt specifically to pass CAF and World Athletics inspections
Source
“He said the Independence Stadium is being rebuilt specifically to pass CAF and World Athletics inspections.”
Independence Stadium renovation set for July
21 MayThe Namibian
Gerard Vries described the project as the future revolution of the youth mandate
Source
“MEIYSAC executive director for lifelong learning, arts and culture Gerard Vries described the project as "the future revolution of the youth mandate."”
Youth centres to be transformed into multi-purpose hubs
15 MayWindhoek Observer
Gerard Vries said transition comes amid financial and operational challenges within government
Source
“Meanwhile, executive director of the ministry, Gerard Vries, said the transition comes amid financial and operational challenges within government.”
Sankwasa warns against power struggles in decentralisation
11 MayWindhoek Observer
Education ministry executive director Gerard Vries asked for questions to be submitted in writing
Source
“Education ministry executive director Gerard Vries asked for questions to be submitted in writing.”
Education ministry wants out of Chicco building deal …as it pays N$1.1 million monthly for empty building
April 2026
8 AprThe Namibian
Gerard Vries says the ministry has not appointed RCC to represent the government in sourcing funding from DBN
Source
“Executive director for sport, youth and national service Gerard Vries says the ministry has not appointed the RCC to represent the government in sourcing funding from the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN).”
Sport ministry unaware of RCC’s N$500-million development bank loan
March 2026
2 MarThe Namibian
Executive director Gerard Vries said sport development in Namibia demands deliberate planning, disciplined leadership and measurable results
Source
“Executive director of sport Gerard Vries said sport development in Namibia demands deliberate planning, disciplined leadership and measurable results.”
Govt calls for transparency, discipline and unity
February 2026
17 FebNew Era
Ministry's current executive director Gerard Vries stated ministry merged in March 2025 with other education ministries, contributing to relocation delays
Source
“Furthermore, Vries stated that in March 2025, the ministry was merged with the Ministry of Education, Arts, and Culture and the Ministry of Higher Education, Technology, and Innovation.”
Ministry pays over ‘N$27 m’ to Chicco

Politics

Education ministry restructures youth and sport department

The News

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 →

Tuesday 7 July

Education ministry restructures youth and sport department
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 →
Government suspends financial support to Namibia sport federations
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 →
Namibia could raise sports investment to N$68.5 million
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 →

Thursday 2 July

Stadium consultant fee far exceeds government budget
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 →

Wednesday 24 June

City of Windhoek legal advisor faces assault charges
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 →

Wednesday 10 June

Ministry's terminology shift fails to clarify Dempers role dispute
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 →
Minister Steenkamp accused of irregular special advisor appointment
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 →

Thursday 4 June

NYS operates below statutory board member minimum for over year
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 →

Sunday 24 May

Independence Stadium procurement expected to begin second quarter
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 →

Thursday 21 May

Youth centres to become multi-purpose hubs for skills
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 →

Friday 15 May

Government transfers youth and sports functions to 14 regional councils
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 →

Monday 11 May

Education ministry seeks to cancel costly empty building lease
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 →

Wednesday 8 April

Sport ministry denies involvement in RCC's N$500m stadium loan request
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 →

Thursday 5 March

Government hand-picks RCC for N$140m regional sport facilities project
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 →

Monday 2 March

Government urges sport federations toward transparency and unity
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 →

Tuesday 17 February

Education ministry paid N$27.5m for unoccupied building
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 →

Monday 26 January

Gochas learners gain new hostel facility in Hardap region
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 →