SHADY land deals involving Tsumeb Mayor Engelbracht ‘Seun’ Nawatiseb continue to pile up, with fresh allegations implicating him in an illegal resale of a municipal plot for a hefty profit to a French investor. 

Documents in Informanté’s possession show that on 4 January 2008, Nawatiseb entered into an agreement of sale with the Municipal Council of Tsumeb for a plot measuring 1,217 square metres at extension 7, Erf No. 978.
According to the memorandum of agreement between the mayor and the Tsumeb Municipality - represented by Chief Executive Officer Alfeus Benjamin -  the plot would set Nawatiseb back by N$21,906.
“The purchased Erf, calculated at N$18,00 per square metre, is the sum of N$21,906 of which a deposit of 10% shall be payable in cash at the signing of this Deed of Sale and the balance in equal monthly instalments calculated at 15% interest over a period of 24 months as arranged with the council,” reads the agreement.  
Before payments on the plot were made to the town council or the plot registered in Nawatiseb’s name at the office of Deeds, Nawatiseb, however, entered into his own private deed of sale with French investor Bruno Geulen and a certain Wilma Diana Sam for the same plot exactly six working days later.
A copy of the deed of sale between Nawatiseb and Geulen dated 15 January 2008, shows that Nawatiseb sold the Erf for N$45,000 cash.
Well placed sources claim that once the deal with Geulen went through, Nawatiseb took a portion of the N$45,000 and settled his debt with his town council for Erf 978.
Documents at the Deeds Office show that the plot in question was only registered in Nawatiseb’s name on 4 March 2008 and again in the name of Geulen and Sam on the same day – 4 March 2008.
“This means that when Seun (Nawatiseb) resold the plot, it was not his but municipal property. This is corruption,” said an inside source.
All Nawatiseb could say when asked for comment was, “Are you really going to run that story? It appears to me that you are out in full force to try and paint me as a corrupt leader. Just be mindful that from now on I’m going to defend my credibility through existing avenues.
“As it stands, you are pre-empting the results of the ACC (Anti-Corruption Commission) because they are currently investigating the case. Besides, I don’t see what is newsworthy about this story.”
Others are also questioning the town council’s ethics, saying that in order to remain objective the town council should reserve land purchases for those that need it and not those looking to make a quick buck at their expense.
When first called to comment, CEO Benjamin said he does not remember all the details of the sale of the plot and needed more time to verify the facts.
“I will have to check with my property officer and check the facts,” said Benjamin on Tuesday.
After an email was sent to him on request, Benjamin on Wednesday responded by saying that Nawatiseb had paid a deposit with the property officer prior to the signing of the memorandum of agreement as per normal business practice.
He, however, concluded that the plot was only paid off on 5 March 2008 – a day after the plot was registered in Nawatiseb and Geulen’s name at the Deeds Office.
“The final amount of N$21, 906 was paid to Council on March 5th, 2008 through his lawyers,” said Benjamin in his email.
Last year, Informanté ran a front-page exposé about the town’s sell-off by Nawatiseb, in which he made large profits on the sale of 60 up-market residential flats, as well as renting office space at the former Tsumeb Limited Corporation complex awarded to him by a close acquaintance, UK-based Weatherly Chief Executive Officer Rob Webster.
Nawatiseb was also accused of conflict of interest after he allegedly arm-twisted the Municipality to approve the sale of a plot to a company, Vula Investment Holding (Pty) Ltd that he co-owns with his friend and Swapo Party Regional Coordinator for Oshikoto Region, Armas Amukwiyu.
The decision to award the plot was made during an ordinary council meeting presided by Nawatiseb.