Onawa hostel ‘bread heist’ falls apart
Police in the Omusati Region last week had to intervene and recover over 100 loaves of bread that were not delivered to Onawa Senior Secondary School after the supplier sold it to a well-known businessman in Onandjaba.
Information remains sketchy, and with no police case opened, it is unclear who made the decision for the bread to end up with the businessman instead of the school.
Eloolo Food Services is the company entrusted by the government to distribute food to all school hostels in Omusati. However, the company ended up in a sticky situation when community members alerted the police that food for government schools was being loaded into a private vehicle along a road in Onandjaba.
Prior to the ‘bread heist’, the truck delivered loaves of bread at the Onawa Senior Secondary hostel and was on its way to Haudano Senior Secondary School's hostel.
According to a source, who opted to remain anonymous, the driver did not deliver all of the bread to Onawa, but instead retained about 100 loaves. This is the bread that was ‘sold’ to the businessman.
The deal was, however, short lived as the police approached the truck driver at Haudano Senior Secondary School and inquired about the bread that was offloaded into a car along the road. “At first, they wanted to deny what happened, but they later told the truth and they contacted the businessman and that is how the bread was recovered and taken back to the Onawa Senior Secondary School hostel,” the source explained.
No arrest made
When contacted for comment, Omusati police commander Commissioner Ismael Basson confirmed the incident, however since no case was opened, the police cannot take further action. The police can only investigate the matter if the school opens a case, he explained.
It, however, appears that the management of the school is divided on the matter, as some staff members feel a case must be opened while others are opposing it.
Onawa Senior Secondary School acting principal Asser Joseph said the school will not open a case since the bread was recovered. “We will not open a case. On the day of the incident, we wanted our bread and after the management of the company ensured we got the bread, we agreed that this situation must not repeat itself,” he said.
“We submitted a report [on the incident] to the regional office,” Joseph added.
ACC should investigate
Meanwhile, the source wanted to know whether this is the first incident of its kind.
“How long has this been happening? Are we saying that this was the first case because they got caught? This is taxpayer money that is being used for personal gratification. The Anti-Corruption Commission [ACC] should investigate this matter if the police cannot do it. What is the role of ACC if such things are happening?”
They further demanded that the company in question deal with those who were involved in the failed ‘bread heist’
[email protected]
Information remains sketchy, and with no police case opened, it is unclear who made the decision for the bread to end up with the businessman instead of the school.
Eloolo Food Services is the company entrusted by the government to distribute food to all school hostels in Omusati. However, the company ended up in a sticky situation when community members alerted the police that food for government schools was being loaded into a private vehicle along a road in Onandjaba.
Prior to the ‘bread heist’, the truck delivered loaves of bread at the Onawa Senior Secondary hostel and was on its way to Haudano Senior Secondary School's hostel.
According to a source, who opted to remain anonymous, the driver did not deliver all of the bread to Onawa, but instead retained about 100 loaves. This is the bread that was ‘sold’ to the businessman.
The deal was, however, short lived as the police approached the truck driver at Haudano Senior Secondary School and inquired about the bread that was offloaded into a car along the road. “At first, they wanted to deny what happened, but they later told the truth and they contacted the businessman and that is how the bread was recovered and taken back to the Onawa Senior Secondary School hostel,” the source explained.
No arrest made
When contacted for comment, Omusati police commander Commissioner Ismael Basson confirmed the incident, however since no case was opened, the police cannot take further action. The police can only investigate the matter if the school opens a case, he explained.
It, however, appears that the management of the school is divided on the matter, as some staff members feel a case must be opened while others are opposing it.
Onawa Senior Secondary School acting principal Asser Joseph said the school will not open a case since the bread was recovered. “We will not open a case. On the day of the incident, we wanted our bread and after the management of the company ensured we got the bread, we agreed that this situation must not repeat itself,” he said.
“We submitted a report [on the incident] to the regional office,” Joseph added.
ACC should investigate
Meanwhile, the source wanted to know whether this is the first incident of its kind.
“How long has this been happening? Are we saying that this was the first case because they got caught? This is taxpayer money that is being used for personal gratification. The Anti-Corruption Commission [ACC] should investigate this matter if the police cannot do it. What is the role of ACC if such things are happening?”
They further demanded that the company in question deal with those who were involved in the failed ‘bread heist’
[email protected]
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