We are hearing that GRN took a decision that Social Security Commission will take over the N$3.9b civil servants’ medical aid (PSEMAS administration) very very soon, taking over from a local entity since the (administration contract) has come to an end. That entity has been running this Administration Contract since 2004 and has allegedly been earning around N$7 million every month with its BEE partners.
The tender for the administration contract was advertised by CENTRAL PROCUREMENT BOARD OF NAMIBIA in 2025 and it closed on 15 SEPTEMBER 2025.
If what we are hearing is true and that this move is truly about saving money and giving civil servants better service, and cutting out unnecessary costs, then it is a good thing and should be supported.
Public money must work for the people who earn it. The only concern I have however, is with the Social Security Commission itself. SSC has in the past been associated with unaccounted and missing millions, that history left me wondering if SSC can be trusted to manage a fund of this size with the discipline and transparency it requires.
I also hope this is not just another fight over who controls a lucrative contract among ‘comlades’ but a genuine attempt to fix a system that affects thousands of tax payers.
As a nation, we have already seen how badly things can go when changes and decisions are rushed, as happened with SME BANK, AGRIBSDEV, NamPost and social grants. We cannot afford a repeat of that!