THE Minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development Charles Namoloh on Tuesday suspended the Okahandja town council indefinitely, only a day after also suspending the Omaruru town council.
Namoloh said in a letter sent to the Okahandja Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Frans Enkali on Tuesday the council had been suspended to allow for an investigation.
The letter states that the minister will institute an investigation to ascertain whether the election of mayor and deputy mayor were conducted procedurally.
Namoloh said all council decisions will be put on hold until further notice.
Enkali confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that he had received a letter from the minister suspending the councillors.
He said only the councillors were suspended and his office and all council staff members will continue to provide services to the residents.
Earlier this month the Okahandja Town Council held the annual election of new political office-bearers.
Valerie Aron who previously chaired the Okahandja Town Council’s Management Committee was elected the mayor, deputised by a new Swapo-Party councillor Niklaas Steenkamp.
Simson Mieze was elected chairperson of the management committee, while Selma Hwepo Itoolwa was appointed an ordinary member of the management committee. Steenkamp and Itoolwa were sworn in as new members of the town council on the Swapo-Party ticket on 03 December 2013.
Andries Bezuidenhout of the United People’s Movement (UPM) was appointed a new member of the management committee, while Fredrick Shimanda of the United Democratic Front (UDF) and Estha Garoes of the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) were elected ordinary members of the council.
Contacted for comment on the matter on Tuesday, Aron said she was out of town and was not aware of the suspension of the council.
Namoloh on Monday also suspended the entire town council of Omaruru without pay for allegedly failing to implement recommendations from his office.
He warned that the the suspension of the Omaruru council was “just the beginning”, saying the ministry will in future take swift action against any local authority whenever discipline, order, harmony and service delivery is at stake in the interest of the public.
-Nampa
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