The Windhoek High Court has struck an urgent application by Epupa Investment Technology from the roll after the company attempted to block the Ministry of Finance from awarding a contract for the payment of social grants to Namibia Post, the state-owned postal company.
The case was dismissed on Friday, with acting judge Andrew Corbett ruling that the matter did not meet the requirements to be heard on an urgent basis.
Epupa Investment Technology had sought to prevent the implementation of a government decision to award Namibia Post the contract responsible for disbursing social grants across the country. The company argued that the decision was irregular and would negatively affect its business operations.
However, Judge Corbett found no justification for the application to be treated as an urgent matter, effectively halting Epupa Investment’s attempt to challenge the contract at this stage.
The ruling means that the Ministry of Finance and Namibia Post can proceed with the implementation of the payment contract, which is aimed at ensuring the continued delivery of social grants to thousands of beneficiaries nationwide.
The court’s decision marks a significant development in the ongoing competition among service providers seeking to manage the payment system for social welfare grants in Namibia.
Epupa Investment Technology has not yet indicated whether it intends to file a fresh application through ordinary legal procedures.
