Sankwasa blasts Henties Bay acting CEO as ‘poorest of poor performers’ amid water crisis

Renthia Kaimbi

Urban and Rural Development minister James Sankwasa has labelled the Henties Bay municipality’s acting chief executive officer (CEO), Ignasia Neis the “poorest of poor performers” and warned the council to act before he is forced to intervene.

The minister’s remarks come in light of a deepening governance crisis in the coastal town, where residents have been left unable to purchase prepaid water after the service provider suspended the vending system in June over an alleged contractual dispute.

Sankwasa, who has been locked in a tense standoff with the municipality over its administration, said Neis had overstayed her welcome and that he had formally objected to her appointment as substantive CEO, despite her being the recommended candidate following a recruitment process.

“The acting CEO is the poorest of poor performers. The municipal council must act before I take action because I cannot allow for a poor performing CEO to throw the community under the bus,” Sankwasa told the Windhoek Observer.