Also known as: PSC
Namibian government body that audits staff recruitment compliance and handles civil service complaints and misconduct appeals.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
The Namibian
Public Service Commission had as former chairperson Salmaan Jacobs
“The former chairperson of the Public Service Commission (PSC) Salmaan Jacobs is expected to return to court for a fifth time on 31 July for sentencing.”
Former PSC chair awaits sentencing after fresh delayThe Namibian
Public Service Commission developed an integrated and automated recruitment system
“Ngurare welcomed the Public Service Commission's work of the integrated and automated recruitment system, adding that appointments in the public service must remain transparent, fair and based strictly on merit and competency.”
Ngurare urges Govt to use TVET graduates for minor maintenance workWindhoek Observer
Public Service Commission was copied on petition for environmental health grading review
“The petition, addressed to the health minister and copied to the Public Service Commission, the Office of the Prime Minister's human resources management division, and the Namibia Public Workers Union, calls for a comprehensive review of environmental health positions within the public service.”
Environmental health practitioners petition govt for grade structure reviewThe Namibian
Public Service Commission audited just 8% of government job hires during 2024/25 financial year
“The Public Service Commission (PSC) audited just 8% of government job hires during the 2024/25 financial year, sparking concerns over transparency and administrative oversight.”
Gaps in Govt hiring oversight raise concernInformanté
the Public Service Commission made a recommendation for the transfer
“She confirmed that the transfer was made following a recommendation by the Public Service Commission, in accordance with Section 5(1) and Section 23(2)(ii) of the Public Service Act (No. 13 of 1995).”
Petrus Sindimba transferred to Office of the Prime MinisterThe Namibian
Public Service Commission decided to retain 16 officials over age 60 due to specialised skills
“The Public Service Commission's (PSC) decision to retain 16 officials over the age of 60 due to their specialised skills has drawn sharp criticism regarding political patronage and stagnant youth employment.”
Skilled retirees retained as Namibia’s youth face joblessnessThe Namibian
Public Service Commission is tackling 72 complaints and various misconduct appeals
“The Public Service Commission (PSC) is tackling 72 complaints and various misconduct appeals while urging government institutions to improve transparency and speed up information submissions.”
Red tape stalls public service complaintsThe Namibian
Public Service Commission is composed of a chairperson and three to six other people nominated by the president and appointed by the National Assembly
“Employees of government ministries and agencies are selected by the Public Service Commission (PSC), which is composed of a chairperson and three to six other people nominated by the president and appointed by the National Assembly for five-year terms.”
What Happens When Public Servants Are Not Serving the Public?New Era
Public Service Commission has frozen the positions after they were not filled within three months of becoming vacant
“The Public Service Commission has frozen the positions after they were not filled within three months of becoming vacant.”
Staff shortage cripples youth centreInformanté
The Public Service Commission had commissioners that required approval but approval had not been done as members of opposition parties walked out
“The adjournment came amid the Speaker ordering that the House continue with a motion which had been undisposed of in the previous session of Parliament, pertaining to the approval of commissioners for the Public Service Commission, which had not been done as members of opposition parties walked out.”
Amupanda, Ballotti clash disrupts parliamentary proceedingsEnrolled nurses have submitted to Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare a request for salary scale promotion from grade 10, arguing their qualifications, responsibilities, and workplace risks are not reflected in their current pay, particularly compared to other civil servants with similar training.
20 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Enrolled nurses have submitted to Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare a request for salary scale promotion from grade 10, arguing their qualifications, responsibilities, and workplace risks are not reflected in their current pay, particularly compared to other civil servants with similar training.
20 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Salmaan Jacobs, former chairperson of the Public Service Commission, is expected to return to the Keetmanshoop Regional Court on 31 July for sentencing after the court postponed the matter for a fourth time, citing incomplete paperwork. Jacobs was convicted on a corruption charge last year after the state successfully appealed a 2014 not-guilty verdict.
15 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The National Council's standing committee on education, science, ICT and youth development has begun a stakeholder engagement programme to better understand the challenges and priorities of institutions under its oversight. Committee chairperson Bethuel Tjaveondja said the sessions would help the committee assess whether institutions are fulfilling their roles in education, research, innovation and skills development.
6 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The National Council's standing committee on education, science, ICT and youth development has launched a stakeholder engagement programme to better understand the challenges and priorities of institutions under its oversight and measure whether they are fulfilling their roles in national development priorities.
6 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Bethuel Tjaveondja, addressing the Standing Committee on Education, Science, ICT and Youth Development, called for stronger parliamentary oversight through direct engagement with institutions under the committee's portfolio, arguing that effective oversight requires more than examining reports and policy documents.
6 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has urged public institutions to use TVET graduates for minor maintenance work, saying it will address unemployment, harness local skills, and keep public funds within the economy. He also called for stronger synergy between executive directors and political heads to improve governance and service delivery.
2 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare told executive directors to end poor implementation, weak accountability, and wasteful spending, warning that government success will be measured by ability to implement policies and improve people's lives, not by the number of policies produced. He expressed concern over abandoned capital projects across the country and urged alignment of procurement plans with seven priority areas: agriculture, water infrastructure, housing, education, healthcare, energy, and economic development.
2 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has appointed an 11-member task force, including former Namibian editor Tangeni Amupadhi, to review salary structures at public enterprises and recommend new pay structures for board members and committees. The task force, chaired by Joseph Diescho, will operate from 1 July to 30 September 2026.
27 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Environmental health practitioners and assistants across Namibia have petitioned the ministry of health and social services to review and upgrade their profession's grading structure, arguing that their qualifications and responsibilities are not adequately reflected in the current public service framework. The practitioners, who hold honours degrees and diplomas respectively, perform essential public health functions including food safety, water quality monitoring, sanitation, waste management, vector control, and disease surveillance.
16 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
A parliamentary standing committee has launched public hearings on whether existing laws adequately protect citizens from exploitation by lending institutions and informal money lenders, prompted by rising indebtedness among households, particularly civil servants. The inquiry focuses on payday loans, which account for 82% of new loans issued by microlenders, and the payroll deduction system used in the public service, which may encourage excessive borrowing despite Labour Act provisions limiting total deductions to one-third of remuneration.
15 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Members of parliament have called for stricter controls on microlenders' direct access to civil servants' salaries, arguing that such deductions worsen financial strain on public servants. The parliamentary economics committee heard concerns about excessive deductions and their effects on disposable income and mental health, with plans to meet with the Microlenders Association next week.
13 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Prime Minister Tjitunga Elijah Ngurare has ordered suspension of the revised categorisation of duty stations for the Remoteness and Hardship Allowance with effect from 1 July 2026, pending further consultation. During the suspension period, duty station categorisations and allowance levels applicable on 31 March 2026 will continue to apply.
12 June 2026 · Informanté →
The Ministry of Health and Social Services has removed Fransina Nambahu as registrar of medicines at the Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council and appointed Frieda Shiweda to the position effective 1 June 2026. Sources told the Windhoek Observer that Nambahu was removed after refusing to approve substandard medicines, contradicting the ministry's stated reason of structural review.
1 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Independent Patriots for Change says it will not take a position on whether inspector general of Police Joseph Shikongo should remain in office, but insists that due process must be followed and calls on the Executive to release all documents demonstrating compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements for suspension.
8 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Public Service Commission audited 796 files out of 10,410 staff members at 10 government offices, ministries, agencies and regional councils during the 2024/25 financial year to assess compliance with recruitment procedures and public service regulations. PSC chairperson Patrick Nandago cited delays in resolving matters and slow institutional responses as ongoing concerns hampering the commission's oversight effectiveness.
6 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Former inspector general Sebastian Ndeitunga says the failure to detect a man who entered the presidential residence last week exposed weaknesses across the police chain of command. The breach has fuelled speculation about the status of police inspector general Joseph Shikongo and raised questions about the VIP Protection Unit's head Michael Abraham.
5 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Petrus Sindimba, Executive Director of the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, has been reassigned to the Office of the Prime Minister, Cabinet Secretariat, as Executive Director Grade 1 without accounting responsibilities, effective 1 May 2026, following a Public Service Commission recommendation.
5 May 2026 · Informanté →
Former executive director of urban and rural development Petrus Sindimba has been transferred to the Cabinet secretariat in the Office of the Prime Minister, where he will serve as executive director without accounting powers, following a recommendation by the Public Service Commission.
29 April 2026 · The Namibian →
The Supreme Court found that former prime minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila acted lawfully under the Public Service Act when she blocked the appointment of Phelem Masule as the Anti-Corruption Commission's chief of investigations and prosecutions in July 2020. Although the court found the High Court erred in setting aside her decision, it dismissed the government's appeal after determining the appellants failed to rely on the correct section of the Act in their appeal.
29 April 2026 · The Namibian →
The Public Service Commission retained 16 officials over the age of 60 due to their specialised skills, citing legal provisions for critical expertise gaps, but the decision has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition over potential political patronage and youth unemployment.
28 April 2026 · The Namibian →
The Public Service Commission is handling 72 complaints and 37 misconduct appeals, with most cases linked to recruitment processes. Delays in resolving matters persist due to slow or incomplete information submissions from government institutions, prompting the PSC to urge accounting officers to improve transparency and submit information promptly.
28 April 2026 · The Namibian →
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 →
The Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters has challenged the health ministry's decision to transfer rather than suspend officials allegedly involved in pharmaceutical theft and stock record manipulation. Health minister Esperance Luvindao said due process and Public Service Commission regulations must be followed before suspensions can occur.
21 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibian law provides clear procedures for holding government employees accountable for misconduct, including suspension, fines, demotion and dismissal through disciplinary committees. The challenge is not legal complexity but lack of political will to enforce these rules consistently.
7 April 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian government has begun reviewing a field development plan from TotalEnergies for the Venus oil project, a key step toward formal negotiations and investment approval. The project is projected to generate between N$127 billion and N$229 billion in government revenue over 25 years, potentially accounting for 7.9% to 14.2% of total government income.
1 April 2026 · The Namibian →
The Mariental Youth Resource Centre operates at reduced capacity with only two staff members instead of the required seven, while its converted house premises lacks youth-friendly infrastructure. The centre is pursuing a five-year plan to construct a new multipurpose facility and has revived programmes in agricultural cooperatives, entrepreneurship training, and environmental education despite staffing constraints.
11 March 2026 · New Era →
The National Assembly approved the appointment of Patrick Nandago, Linda Scott, Lidwina Shapwa and Gerson Kamatuka as Public Service Commission commissioners for five years beginning March 2026, with 48 Swapo votes securing approval despite opposition parties boycotting the vote and challenging the process.
4 March 2026 · The Namibian →
The Deputy Speaker adjourned the National Assembly session after AR leader Job Amupanda and Deputy Minister of Education Dino Ballotti engaged in a verbal confrontation. Ballotti later apologized to Amupanda, acknowledging that MPs should treat each other with respect.
4 March 2026 · Informanté →
The Supreme Court of Namibia has declined to review Salmaan Jacobs's application to overturn a High Court ruling that found him guilty of corruption; Jacobs, the Chairperson of the Public Service Commission, is set to appear in Keetmanshoop Regional Court on 12 May 2026 for sentencing after the High Court in November 2025 found him guilty of using his former office as CRO of //Kharas Region to transfer N$30,000 to a company owned by himself and his wife under false pretenses.
3 March 2026 · Informanté →
Opposition MPs staged a walkout from the National Assembly on Thursday when the government sought urgent approval of four Public Service Commission commissioners, citing concerns about their age, qualifications, ethnic representation, and lack of adequate debate. The walkout left no quorum for the vote to proceed.
3 March 2026 · The Namibian →