Staff Reporter RALPH Schachika (50), the Acting Chief Regional Officer of the //Kharas Regional Council, and the mother of his minor daughter, Lucia Jakob (35), appeared in the Windhoek Magistrate Court after being implicated in redirecting funds of a government tender project to …
//Kharas regional officer and lover charged with embezzlementNamibia Minute.
Friday, 22 May 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Friday, 22 May 2026
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Namibian press · Organization
Kharas Regional Council
Also known as: ||Kharas Regional Council · ||Kharas council · ǁKharas Regional Council · //Kharas Regional Council
||Kharas Regional Council — Namibian local government body managing southern region, involved in fraud investigation into former chief regional officer in 2026.
In coverage
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
- February 2026
- January 2026
… This has left more than 25 000 people living in reed structures without sanitation and exposed to frequent fires, according to the ||Kharas Regional Council. …
Aussenkehr’s status traps 25 000 people in reed houses… The ǁKharas Regional Council on Monday issued a public notice inviting eligible students to apply for financial assistance for the 2026 academic year through constituency offices. …
ǁKharas commemorates International Day of Education with week-long pupil support campaign… lls for the creation and adoption of dynamic means to ensure that our society brings and develops worthy and capable youth who will become able future leaders leading our nation to greater heights. *Reverend Jan A Scholtz is the former chairperson of the ||Kharas Regional Council …
Opinion – Importance of family in a child’s developmentDocuments bearing the state-owned company August 26 Construction’s letterhead were allegedly used to steal N$3.9 million from the ||Kharas Regional Council. …
Alleged N$3.9 million fraud linked to Kharas Regional Council… My take is that sitting around waiting for the world to change will not get us anywhere, but we must be the change we want to see in the world; therefore, let us be the change agents. *Reverend Jan A Scholtz is the former chairperson of the //Kharas Regional Council and former !N …
Opinion – Development in perspectiveKEETMANSHOOP – //Kharas Regional Council chairperson, Gerrit Witbooi, emphasised that the council must preoccupy itself with present and future deliverables rather than clinging to past challenges or failure of the previous regime. …
Bury past, focus on future – Witbooi… Participants were urged to move beyond individual competition and instead embrace networking and collaboration to strengthen the impact of youth-led initiatives across the //Kharas region.Addressing the attendees, //Kharas Regional Council chairperson, Gerrit Witbooi, underscored …
‘Drive economic growth via NYDF’… Addressing the attendees, ||Kharas Regional Council chairperson Gerrit Witbooi underscored the transformative potential of the fund. …
||Kharas youth urged to drive economic growth via NYDF
Politics
Minister orders inquiry into tribal bias at Roads Authority
The News
Transport Minister Veikko Nekundi ordered an investigation into alleged tribal bias in recruitment at the Roads Authority, finding it employs about 74 people from the Zambezi region compared to more than 300 from northern Namibia. The probe has revived broader allegations of tribalism in hiring practices across Namibian state-owned enterprises and government offices.
Why it matters
The transport minister's investigation into tribal bias at the Roads Authority has revived systemic allegations of nepotism across state-owned enterprises and government.
26 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Sunday 26 April
Minister orders inquiry into tribal bias at Roads Authority
Transport Minister Veikko Nekundi ordered an investigation into alleged tribal bias in recruitment at the Roads Authority, finding it employs about 74 people from the Zambezi region compared to more than 300 from northern Namibia. The probe has revived broader allegations of tribalism in hiring practices across Namibian state-owned enterprises and government offices.
26 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Friday 17 April
Deputy health minister pledges focus on social well-being
Deputy Health Minister Suzan Ndjaleka, newly appointed by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, says she will prioritize Namibians' social well-being and healthcare, emphasizing decentralization and collective responsibility in service delivery at the grassroots level.
17 April 2026 · New Era →
Wednesday 11 March
Swapo //Kharas coordinator calls for audits and discipline
Swapo's regional coordinator Matheus Mumbala addressed concerns in government institutions in //Kharas, calling for investigations and audits of the Keetmanshoop Electricity Business Unit and town councils from December 2020 to December 2025, and urging district leadership renewal and unity among councillors on development and service delivery.
11 March 2026 · New Era →
Friday 20 February
//Kharas council appoints acting chief officer after arrest
The //Kharas Regional Council chairperson announced the appointment of Megameno Shikongo as acting chief regional officer following the arrest of the previous CRO on corruption charges. The council said it would ensure service delivery continues uninterrupted during the transition.
20 February 2026 · New Era →
Wednesday 18 February
Fraud suspect in N$3.9m council tender case remanded in custody
Titus Iipumbu was remanded in custody after appearing in Windhoek Magistrate's Court on fraud, forgery and corruption charges linked to an alleged N$3.9 million misdirected payment by the ||Kharas Regional Council to a company owned by Iipumbu in October 2024. The state argues he poses a flight risk and may interfere with investigations; his mother and co-accused Lucia Jakob were each granted N$50,000 bail.
18 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Two arrested in //Karas Regional Council fraud case
Titus Ipumbu and his mother Maria Iipumbu appeared in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court in relation to an alleged N$3.9 million fraud at //Karas Regional Council, wherein funds meant for August 26 Construction were redirected to third-party accounts. Former acting Chief Regional Officer Ralph Sachika is alleged to have authorised the misdirection, with some funds deposited into accounts including one opened in the name of Sachika's minor daughter.
18 February 2026 · Informanté →
Tuesday 17 February
Keetmanshoop Vocational Training Center opens with 138 students
The Keetmanshoop Vocational Training Center officially opened, enrolling 138 students in eight fields including water supply, mechanical engineering, solar installation, electrical engineering, ICT, welding, logistics, and occupational health and safety. The facility aims to serve qualifying trainees from //Kharas and Hardap regions and support skills development for the region's economic growth.
17 February 2026 · New Era →
Friday 13 February
||Kharas council appoints interim chief regional officer
The ||Kharas Regional Council has appointed Megameno Shikongo as acting chief regional officer for three months, following the arrest of former acting CRO Ralph Sachika on fraud, forgery, money laundering and corruption charges. The council is awaiting approval from the Public Service Commission to appoint a substantive CRO by 1 April.
13 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Thursday 12 February
//Kharas acting chief regional officer arrested in construction corruption
Two people, including the //Kharas Regional Council's acting chief regional officer Ralph Namiluko Sachika, have been arrested in connection with alleged corruption and money laundering involving N$3.9 million in payments to unauthorized bank accounts during construction of the //Kharas Regional Office Park.
12 February 2026 · New Era →
Wednesday 11 February
||Kharas chief regional officer charged with fraud and money laundering
Ralph Sachika, the acting chief regional officer for ||Kharas Regional Council, and his girlfriend Lucia Jacob appeared in Windhoek Magistrate's Court charged with fraud, forgery, money laundering and corruption in connection with an alleged N$2.9 million payment diverted from a council tender to a third-party company account. The charges stem from payments intended for a construction contract that were reportedly redirected, with portions traced to Jacob's account and then to the couple's daughter's bank account.
11 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Acting //Kharas officer charged with embezzlement and fraud
Ralph Schachika, Acting Chief Regional Officer of //Kharas Regional Council, and Lucia Jakob face charges of embezzlement and money laundering after allegedly redirecting N$3.9 million from a government tender project meant for August 26 Construction to third-party accounts including one in his minor daughter's name.
11 February 2026 · Informanté →
Wednesday 28 January
Settlement status blocks bank-financed housing in Aussenkehr
Aussenkehr's status as a settlement prevents residents from obtaining title deeds, making it impossible to secure bank loans for housing and leaving more than 25,000 people living in reed structures without sanitation. The ||Kharas Regional Council is calling for government funding to repair infrastructure and has allocated land to companies to build employee housing, though leasehold agreements continue to hinder financing efforts.
28 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Saturday 24 January
ǁKharas region launches education support campaign for pupils
The ǁKharas region has marked the International Day of Education (24 January) with a week-long campaign in which newly elected regional councillors provided financial assistance to tertiary students, donated stationery and school uniforms, and made motivational school visits. The regional council also invited eligible students to apply for financial assistance for the 2026 academic year through constituency offices.
24 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Friday 23 January
Family role in shaping Namibian children's development examined
A theological educator argues that families are fundamental to instilling values, character, and practical skills in Namibian children, warning that rapid socio-economic change, modern media, and the shift from traditional to formal education have undermined the family's traditional role and may lead to social problems including substance abuse and crime.
23 January 2026 · New Era →
Thursday 22 January
N$3.9 million fraud alleged at ||Kharas Regional Council
Documents bearing the letterhead of state-owned August 26 Construction were allegedly used to facilitate the theft of N$3.9 million from ||Kharas Regional Council in October 2024. The money was paid to Tushiko Investment Technology, a company linked to businessman Titus Iipumbu, and the regional council's chief regional officer Ralph Sachika is alleged to have colluded in the scheme.
22 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Friday 16 January
Opinion: What development truly means in perspective
An opinion piece examining varying definitions of development — from GDP growth and infrastructure to broader social, political, and spiritual transformation. The author argues that integral development requires structural change across economic, social, political, and cultural dimensions, and calls on citizens to be active agents of change.
16 January 2026 · New Era →
Wednesday 14 January
//Kharas leadership calls for unity, service delivery focus
At the //Kharas Regional Council's 2026 opening, chairperson Gerrit Witbooi urged the council to focus on present and future deliverables rather than past failures, while regional governor Dawid Gertze warned administrators against disrespect, absenteeism, and tardiness, and called for unified work under the Swapo manifesto and NDP6.
14 January 2026 · New Era →
Tuesday 13 January
Kharas launches youth entrepreneurship fund awareness campaign
The //Kharas Governor's Youth Desk held an awareness session in Keetmanshoop to educate local youth about the National Youth Development Fund, a government initiative supporting youth entrepreneurship and innovation. Participants received guidance on application procedures, business planning fundamentals, and financial literacy, with regional leaders urging youth to transition from job-seeking to job creation.
13 January 2026 · New Era →
Kharas youth trained on accessing government entrepreneurship fund
The ||Kharas governor's office held an awareness session at Keetmanshoop to educate youth on the National Youth Development Fund, a government initiative supporting youth entrepreneurship. Participants received training on business planning, financial literacy, eligibility criteria and application procedures, with officials urging young people to become job-creators rather than job-seekers.
13 January 2026 · The Namibian →