Ministry assures all vehicles are accounted for

The Ministry of Works and Transport has strongly rejected suggestions that 53 government vehicles valued at more than N$35.5 million are missing or unaccounted for, insisting that the vehicles were properly registered and permanently allocated to various government institutions.

The clarification follows concerns raised in the Auditor-General’s Report for the financial year ended 31 March 2025, which identified apparent discrepancies in the Government Garage Pool Vehicle Register. The findings subsequently attracted political scrutiny, prompting the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) to issue a media statement on 11 October 2026.

At the centre of the controversy are 53 newly acquired vehicles valued at over N$35.5 million that were reportedly missing from the Government Garage Pool Vehicle Register.

However, the ministry on Friday clarified that the audit concerns stem from a misunderstanding of how government vehicles are classified and administered, rather than evidence of missing public assets.

“The Ministry wishes to clarify that the 53 vehicles were permanently allocated to various Offices, Ministries and Agencies (OMAs) and recorded in the Permanent Allocation Vehicle Register, rather than the Pool Vehicle Register,” the ministry stated.

“Their absence from the Pool Vehicle Register should therefore not be interpreted as evidence that the vehicles were missing or had not been recorded, as one cannot expect non-pool vehicles to be registered on the pool vehicle register.”

The ministry further explained that Works and Transport procured only six of the 53 vehicles directly, while other government offices, ministries and agencies purchased the remaining 47.

This distinction matters because the institutions that acquired the vehicles bear responsibility for procurement expenditure, financial documentation, and associated accountability.

Government Garage, meanwhile, administers the national government fleet through three principal registers: the Main Vehicle Register, Pool Vehicle Register and Permanent Allocation Vehicle Register.

The Main Vehicle Register initially records all government vehicles before classifying them by intended use. The Pool Vehicle Register accommodates vehicles available for temporary allocation, while permanently assigned vehicles are recorded separately.

The ministry insists that supporting documentation, including vehicle issuing and receipt vouchers, is available to substantiate its explanation.

The ministry also addressed questions surrounding the transfer of 106 government vehicles to the Office of the Judiciary.

According to the statement, the ministry permanently assigned these vehicles to the Judiciary and later transferred them from Government Garage records to enable the institution to establish and administer its own fleet. The ministry further confirmed that Treasury approval for the donation of vehicle GRN 5007 is available.

These explanations come amid growing public expectations for greater transparency in managing government assets, particularly as fiscal pressures demand tighter expenditure controls and more effective use of public resources.

Under Treasury Circular D12/2023, the ministry must submit Statement 46 annually by 31 July, detailing permanently allocated vehicles and government pool vehicles.

Accurate reporting is essential to ensure that government assets can be traced, verified and properly accounted for.

The ministry acknowledged the importance of strengthening record-keeping practices, conducting regular reconciliations and ensuring compliance with Treasury requirements.

It also emphasised the importance of engaging with the Auditor-General before finalising findings.

“Such engagement provides an opportunity to clarify factual discrepancies and consider management responses before audit findings are finalised, thereby promoting accuracy, transparency and fairness in public reporting,” the ministry stated.

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