Swapo Orders Witvlei to Reinstate Chairperson

Nico Smit

24 June 2011

The Omaheke regional leadership of Swapo has ordered the Witvlei Village Council to reinstate its embattled chairperson, Livey van Wyk.

Acting regional coordinator for the Omaheke Region Job Muniaro told the councillors that Van Wyk remains a member of the village council and its chairperson.

Van Wyk was suspended after she had made accusations of corruption at the village council.

“Mindful of the pieces of legislation in this regard the Local Authority Act, No. 23 of 1992 and the Code of Conduct with references you made to justify the expulsion of Councillor Van Wyk does not comply with the provision of the Act and the Code of Conduct in contrast with the nature of the alleged offence,” the letter that Muniaro wrote to the councillors reads.

Muniaro says “there is a lack of substantive reasons and procedural fairness” with regard to Van Wyk’s expulsion from the council.

Muniaro’s letter also states that there was “intentional oversight” on the council’s part of some sections of the Local Authorities Act and the Code of Conduct.

According to the letter, “the overlooking of the provisions of the Act and the Code of Conduct is a serious violation from the council’s side” which nullifies the decision it took to expel Van Wyk.

The council said in its response to Muniaro in a letter dated June 22 2011 that his advice would be tabled at the council meeting on July 6.

When contacted for comment, Muniaro said when he was presented with a letter informing him of the council’s decision to “expel” Van Wyk, it gave no indication that proper procedures had been followed.

“There was no copy of a warning letter, the charges against Van Wyk were not listed and there was no evidence that she had attended a disciplinary hearing, therefore, as a result, Van Wyk remains the chairperson of the council until such procedures are correctly followed,” Muniaro said.

Muniaro said the alleged corruption had not been discussed at the party’s regional secretariat meeting, as it was not part of the letter that he had received from the council.

Van Wyk said she became the chairperson of the council at the recommendation of Swapo, which has a majority on the council.

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