Windhoek:TransNamib's board has placed Chief Executive Officer Desmond van Jaarsveld and Executive for Engineering and Technical Services Bertus Eksteen on precautionary leave pending an independent investigation.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the decision to place the executives on leave followed due process and was concurred with by the Minister of Works and Transport. TransNamib has emphasized that the leave does not imply any finding of guilt. The company has decided not to disclose further details in order to protect the privacy of those involved and to maintain the integrity of the ongoing process.

In the interim, Kristian Hamutenya will serve as Acting CEO, ensuring that daily operations continue without interruption. This development comes on the heels of the dismissal of TransNamib's Executive for Human Capital, Webster Gonzo, effective 26 October 2026, after being found guilty of gross negligence and breaching the company's code of conduct and ethics.

The disciplinary measures followed an internal audit investigation conducted in 2025 and 2026 into an alienation project, accompanied by an external forensic investigation authorized by the former board in 2025. These findings were reported to the Anti-Corruption Commission in June 2026, which subsequently approved further investigation. Gonzo and Executive for Properties Alynsia Platt had been suspended since February.