Namibia Minute.
Sunday, 6 September 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Sunday, 6 September 2026
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Namibian press · Organization

Public Service Commission

Also known as: PSC

Appears in coverage of government public sector employment, recruitment, and civil service matters in Namibia.

2020-08-172026-09-06
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What’s been said

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

  1. March 2026

  2. New Era

    Public Service Commission has frozen the positions after they were not filled within three months of becoming vacant

    Source

    “The Public Service Commission has frozen the positions after they were not filled within three months of becoming vacant.”

    Staff shortage cripples youth centre

  3. Informanté

    The Public Service Commission had commissioners that required approval but approval had not been done as members of opposition parties walked out

    Source

    “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 proceedings
  4. February 2026

  5. The Namibian

    Public Service Commission is said to have submitted Mukasa as top contender for appointment

    Source

    “Mukasa and Haiyambo were subsequently recommended to the Public Service Commission (PSC), which is said to have submitted Mukasa as the top contender for appointment.”

    Three Bank of Namibia executives shortlisted for deputy governor as Nicholas Mukasa allegedly emerges as front runner

  6. The Namibian

    Public Service Commission stated the public service cost the state N$35.4 billion annually when comprising 107,000 employees

    Source

    “According to the Public Service Commission, the public service cost the state about N$35.4 billion annually, including benefits, when it comprised 107 000 employees.”

    Govt's bloated wage bill spent on ‘unproductive' workers
  7. January 2026

  8. Informanté

    Public Service Commission made recommendation for appointment of Ms Linda Nakale as MICT Executive Director

    Source

    “The appointment follows a recommendation by the Public Service Commission and is made in terms of the Public Service Act, 1995.”

    New Executive Director for ICT Ministry
  9. August 2024

  10. The Namibian

    Public Service Commission adherence to merit-based appointments often extends recruitment timelines

    Source

    “Recent statistics indicate that the Public Service Commission's adherence to merit-based appointments often extends recruitment timelines, affecting timely employment opportunities for new graduates.”

    Competitive Dynamics in Public Sector Recruitment
  11. August 2020

  12. The Namibian

    Public Service Commission stated Wilma Deetlefs was a true, committed and career public servant

    Source

    “Public Service Commission member Wilma Deetlefs, who died in Windhoek last week, was a true and committed public servant, the commission stated in a media announcement on Friday.”

    Tributes paid to public service commissioner
Politics

PM dismisses claims task force on SOE salaries dissolved

The News

Prime Minister Ngurare dismissed allegations that an 11-member task force chaired by Professor Joseph Diecho, appointed to review public enterprise salary structures from July to September, was dissolved after senior officials objected to its composition. Opposition MP McHenry Venaani claimed the body became defunct after being established, alleging members were removed because "the authority ahead of you was not happy with the name."

3 September 2026 · Informanté →

Thursday 3 September

  1. PM dismisses claims task force on SOE salaries dissolved

    Prime Minister Ngurare dismissed allegations that an 11-member task force chaired by Professor Joseph Diecho, appointed to review public enterprise salary structures from July to September, was dissolved after senior officials objected to its composition. Opposition MP McHenry Venaani claimed the body became defunct after being established, alleging members were removed because "the authority ahead of you was not happy with the name."

    3 September 2026 · Informanté →

Saturday 29 August

  1. Documentary explores Bience Gawanas beyond institutional roles

    A new documentary titled 'The Encapsulation of Bience Gawanas', directed by filmmaker Othilia Mungoba, presents an intimate audiovisual portrait of the liberation figure and human rights advocate using multi-sensory storytelling that blends conversations, archival footage, personal artefacts, photographs and music. The film will be screened on 28 August at a public event in Windhoek.

    29 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 4 August

  1. Editor urges Namibians to reflect on 36 years of independence

    Informanté editor-in-chief Chris Jacobie urged Namibians to reflect on the country's progress since independence, arguing that 36 years of achievements demonstrate the value of good governance, peace, and investing trust in younger generations. He highlighted that Namibia has now enjoyed 36 years of uninterrupted peace, longer than the 26-year liberation struggle, and noted that many of the country's first leaders were under 50 when they took office.

    4 August 2026 · Informanté →

Monday 3 August

  1. Health Ministry wins Nipam overall public sector award

    The Ministry of Health and Social Services won the overall award at Nipam's second public sector awards ceremony in Windhoek, recognized for investing in professional development and employee capacity building. The ceremony also celebrated 38 public servants who completed Nipam's accredited management programmes at NQF levels 6, 7 and 8.

    3 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 1 August

  1. Experts call for older people inclusion in policy planning

    Retired Public Service Commission commissioner Nashilongo Shivute told an African Union meeting in Windhoek that older people should be consulted when governments develop policies, plan communities and design services, and that their knowledge and experience should be incorporated into education and development programmes rather than treating them only as beneficiaries.

    1 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 25 July

  1. Public Service Commission warns against fake recruitment notice

    The Public Service Commission has cautioned the public against a fraudulent government recruitment notice circulating on social media, stating that no nationwide recruitment programme has been launched. The commission emphasized that all official government recruitment is advertised through official circulars and authenticated government channels, not through unofficial online links or social media.

    25 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 20 July

  1. Enrolled nurses seek upgrade from grade 10 salary scale

    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 →

Wednesday 15 July

  1. Former PSC chief awaits sentencing after court postpones fourth time

    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 →

Monday 6 July

  1. Education committee launches stakeholder engagement programme

    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 →

  2. Education committee begins stakeholder engagement on sector challenges

    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 →

  3. Parliamentary committee emphasizes stakeholder engagement for oversight

    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 →

Thursday 2 July

  1. PM urges public institutions to employ TVET graduates

    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 →

  2. PM Ngurare demands better implementation and accountability in government

    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 →

Saturday 27 June

  1. PM appoints 11-member task force to review public enterprise salaries

    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 →

Tuesday 16 June

  1. Environmental health practitioners petition for grade structure review

    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 →

Monday 15 June

  1. Parliament examines household debt crisis among civil servants

    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 →

Saturday 13 June

  1. MPs demand tighter controls on microlender salary deductions

    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 →

Friday 12 June

  1. PM suspends revised remoteness and hardship allowance

    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 →

Monday 1 June

  1. Health ministry removes registrar of medicines, appoints successor

    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 →

Friday 8 May

  1. IPC demands transparency on Shikongo suspension procedures

    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 →

Wednesday 6 May

  1. PSC audited 8% of government hires in 2024/25 financial year

    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 →

Tuesday 5 May

  1. Former police chief slams security breach at State House

    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 →

  2. Petrus Sindimba transferred to Office of Prime Minister

    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 →

Wednesday 29 April

  1. Petrus Sindimba moves to Cabinet secretariat executive director role

    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 →

  2. Supreme Court upholds ex-PM's block of ACC investigator

    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 →

Tuesday 28 April

  1. PSC retains 16 officials over 60 amid youth joblessness row

    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 →

  2. Public Service Commission tackles 72 complaints amid administrative delays

    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 →

Sunday 26 April

  1. 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 →

Tuesday 21 April

  1. NEFF demands suspension of officials in pharmaceutical theft probe

    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 →

Tuesday 7 April

  1. Legal framework exists for dismissing misconduct public servants

    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 →

Public Service Commission — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute