Teachers at Mandume Primary School in Windhoek have raised serious concerns about ritual practices and divisive behavior allegedly carried out by their principal, Lesley //Hoebeb, prompting them to lodge a formal complaint with the police.
According to the complaint, //Hoebeb reportedly performed ritual ceremonies at the school during the holiday period without the consent of the school board or staff. It is alleged that he painted the staffroom white, claiming it symbolized peace, and invited relatives and select teachers to a ceremony where he accused colleagues of witchcraft. Teachers further allege that he spoke about their private lives, creating mistrust and fear among staff members.
Educators also expressed frustration over what they describe as the principal’s deliberate efforts to divide the workforce by instructing some staff members not to associate with others. They say this behavior has lowered morale and eroded collaboration within the school.
Beyond interpersonal disputes, the complaint also outlines concerns of mismanagement of resources. Teachers claim //Hoebeb removed and used school assets for personal benefit, including laptops, stationery, toilet paper, and even the school printer, which he allegedly took home every Friday. They further accused him of diverting maize intended for the feeding programme to another school.
The letter of complaint concludes that the principal is “not fit to run a school,” citing the loss of trust, a medical report declaring him unfit for duty, and repeated incidents of alleged misconduct ranging from ritual practices to the misuse of school property. Staff members say they are still awaiting an official response from authorities.
