Engelbrecht !Nawatiseb (Born June 20, 1969) is a Namibian politician who served as the Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Technology from 2018 to 2024. A member of the South West Africa People's Organization, he previously served as Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises from 2015 to 2018 and a member of the National Assembly from 2015 to 2020.[1]
Engelbrecht !Nawatiseb | |
---|---|
Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Technology | |
In office 2018–2020 | |
President | Hage Geingob |
Prime Minister | Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila |
Succeeded by | Emma Theofilus |
Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises | |
In office 2015–2018 | |
President | Hage Geingob |
Prime Minister | Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila |
Member of the National Assembly from Tsumeb Constituency | |
In office 2015–2020 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Oshikoto Region | June 20, 1969
Throughout his career, !Nawatiseb has been a member of the South West Africa People's Organization. His membership in the party was briefly interrupted for about a month in 2024, when he left SWAPO to join the Landless People's Movement. This decision came after !Nawatiseb made calls for younger leadership within SWAPO.[2] !Nawatiseb would quickly abandon the party to rejoin SWAPO.[3] According to the Landless People's Movement's leadership, !Nawatiseb left after being embarrassed by party members after being assigned to drive a car at the LPM's fifth anniversary celebrations.[4]
In 2024, the Namibian Government sued !Nawatiseb for refusal to pay an unused travel allowance from a cancelled trip to Spain, and salary overpayment.[5][6]
!Nawatiseb would face controversy in 2024 when a video of him slapping a bartender in Tsumeb was circulated online. !Nawatiseb would defend his actions, stating that the bar was causing noise pollution. This claim was disputed by the bartender, who stated that the slap was unrelated to any noise pollution the bar may have caused.[7] The video was criticized by members of the Popular Democratic Movement, to which !Nawatiseb responded by describing the PDM as a "total reject in Tsumeb".[8]
References
edit- ^ "!Nawatiseb, Engelbrecht A." parliament.na. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ Amutenja, Hertta-Maria. "FORMER DEPUTY MINISTER NAWATISEB LEAVES SWAPO TO JOIN LPM". Windhoek Observer. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
- ^ Hamalwa, Festus. "Nawatiseb makes U-turn on LPM". New Era Live. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
- ^ Ndeyanale, Eliaser. "LPM party insiders claim former deputy minister was 'humiliated'". The Namibian. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
- ^ "Namibia: Govt Sues Ex-Deputy Minister Over Travel Allowance". AllAfrica. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ "S&T funds of a cancelled trip haunt former Information Minister Nawatiseb". All Namibian News. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
- ^ "BARTENDER RECALLS SLAP FROM EX-DEPUTY MINISTER". Namibian Sun. 20 June 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
- ^ Matthys, Donald. "Former deputy minister defends slapping bar lady". The Namibian. Retrieved 11 September 2024.