Becker fired from UPM

United People’s Movement (UPM) former secretary general and member of parliament, Celeste Becker, and the party are embroiled in a legal battle following her dismissal from her position and subsequent expulsion from the party.

This was revealed by UPM president Jan van Wyk in a conversation with Desert Radio yesterday. Van Wyk said Becker’s absence from parliament is not necessarily a loss to the party. “When you are there on a ticket of a political party, you really need to respect the leadership and do what the party wants you to do. You cannot be disrespecting the authority that has put you there,” Van Wyk said.

He did not mince words when describing Van Wyk’s character.

“She is very ill disciplined and I am not scared to say it,” he said.

He further revealed that Becker’s expulsion follows a central committee directive.

“The central committee took a decision and she was expelled from the party because of what she did. She refused to accept decisions of the party leadership and brought the name of the party in disrepute,” Van Wyk said.

Contacted for comment, Becker confirmed that she is embroiled in a court case with the party concerning her dismissal from the position of secretary general and the expulsion that ensued thereafter.

“There is an ongoing litigation process and I would rather not comment on the matter. Four people were expelled unprocedurally and three of us opted to go the legal route,” she said.

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