Information deputy minister Engelbrecht Nawatiseb says it is not illegal to use his luxurious official vehicle to carry fish and that he is entitled to such benefits.
Nawatiseb had a confrontation with some Henties Bay white communities who video recorded him collecting fish.
The people who video-recorded him said that he was abusing the government vehicle bought by taxpayers’ money.
“My brother, I am a taxpayer too. So if people have issues with ministers who also enjoy their entitlement because of their positions using their government vehicles either for private or for official purposes, (they) must go and report it to the relevant authorities.
“Why should they take me on? That’s harassment, my friend. What if I could respond also using the same force that they did? It could have erupted into a physical confrontation so I avoided that. What if my bodyguards took action if they were there? So people must be educated to respect some of us,” said the deputy minister.
He said if people were not happy with ministers’ entitlement, they should call for amendments to the laws that guarantee their benefits.
Nawatiseb has also exclusively made his feelings known to Eagle FM further stating that he was unhappy with how his name had been dropped in the Fish rot scandal.
“If people are offended by the system that government is operating it’s equally their right to approach relevant authorities to have these addressed,” he said.
The scandal has exposed massive corruption in the fishing sector and has implicated former ministers Bernard Esau and Sacky Shanghala.
“I think my personality is being defamed. That’s tantamount to character assassination so that is why I am seeking recourse from my lawyers to deal with the person that is implicating me because I have never been a corrupt person. Go to the Anti-Corruption Commission.
Allegations that have been levelled against me have been thoroughly investigated and I have been vindicated on all charges that were linked to me being corrupt. So I am a corrupt-free person. I am a very clean person and I live a clean life even though I have my weaknesses,” he said.
