Assault alleged as CoD car chase ends at Police station

TWO members of the fragmented opposition party Congress of Democrats were arrested by the City Police for alleged theft of a car belonging to the party.

No charges were laid, but the two young men were taken to the Wanaheda Police station on Friday night and locked up in a holding cell. According to CoD member Kala Gertze, who had been in possession of the car for the last two years, he was called to the Police station the same night.He managed to get the two released.”I discovered that one of them had been assaulted by another CoD member, who apparently followed them in another car,” Gertze told The Namibian on Sunday.The alleged assailant was a member of the group supporting faction leader Ben Ulenga, while Gertze and the two young CoD members arrested by the City Police belong to the rival faction under Ignatius Shixwameni.The Shixwameni group walked out of a controversial party congress at Keetmanshoop three months ago after accusing the Ulenga group of vote rigging and fraud.According to Gertze, a charge of assault was laid against the alleged assailant.”The Police watched the assault taking place, but did not interfere.We are now seeking a restraining order against the aggressor.”CoD National Chairman Tsudao Gurirab opened a case of car theft with the Police about two weeks ago, although he was apparently aware that the car in question had been assigned to Gertze since 2005.The Namibian Police was “unaware” of the incident when contacted yesterday.Efforts to obtain details from the City Police and the Ulenga group were unsuccessful.According to CoD member Kala Gertze, who had been in possession of the car for the last two years, he was called to the Police station the same night.He managed to get the two released.”I discovered that one of them had been assaulted by another CoD member, who apparently followed them in another car,” Gertze told The Namibian on Sunday.The alleged assailant was a member of the group supporting faction leader Ben Ulenga, while Gertze and the two young CoD members arrested by the City Police belong to the rival faction under Ignatius Shixwameni.The Shixwameni group walked out of a controversial party congress at Keetmanshoop three months ago after accusing the Ulenga group of vote rigging and fraud.According to Gertze, a charge of assault was laid against the alleged assailant.”The Police watched the assault taking place, but did not interfere.We are now seeking a restraining order against the aggressor.”CoD National Chairman Tsudao Gurirab opened a case of car theft with the Police about two weeks ago, although he was apparently aware that the car in question had been assigned to Gertze since 2005.The Namibian Police was “unaware” of the incident when contacted yesterday.Efforts to obtain details from the City Police and the Ulenga group were unsuccessful.