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Clerk throws in the towel

Clerk throws in the towel

THE resignation of its Town Clerk is the latest shock to hit the Otavi Municipality after an impromptu reshuffling of its Council.

Yesterday, Joseph Jantze confirmed that he would quit after nearly four years in the post, but declined to provide reasons. But the Ministry of Regional and Local Government and Housing, confirming that it had received notice of his intended departure, said Jantze had claimed his move was prompted by fears of threats to his life.The town’s affairs have virtually ground to a halt in the past week while the Otavi Residents’ Association (ORA) and the Ministry try to iron out matters related to the swearing-in of new councillors.Two weeks ago, the ORA decided to replace three of its four councillors.They include the Mayor, Markus Damaseb; Deputy Mayor Magdalena Noarises; and the Chairman of the Management Committee, Gerson Gamibeb.Jantze would not say whether his decision to opt out of the town’s hot seat had anything to do with the changes.Residents have accused him and Damaseb of taking decisions without the Council’s consent.The Town Clerk said yesterday that the ousted councillors no longer wanted to attend council meetings but that business could not proceed with only the remaining councillors.The ORA holds four seats on the council and Swapo the other three.”The entire administration and management D nothing is going on because we don’t have a quorum,” he told The Namibian yesterday.Deputy Minister of Regional and Local Government and Housing, Gerhard Totemeyer, said yesterday that he was still not satisfied that the procedures taken to boot the Mayor and two other councillors were aboveboard.The legitimacy of the organisation’s executive is in question after written correspondence was signed by a “chairman” who said he had never served the association in that capacity.A new chairman was elected D but the legitimacy of this move is also being questioned.Last week, the ORA arranged for a Magistrate to swear in their elected replacements, but Jantze said they had no mandate to do so.Jantze informed the Magistrate that this could not be done until the Ministry gave the go-ahead.He said there was nothing more he could do to speed up the process, saying it was up to the ORA to “get their house in order”.He said he had forwarded all documentation received from them to the Ministry.It is unclear how much longer it will take until the process is finalised.Jantze said yesterday he intended to enter the business arena once he leaves the Council’s employ.But the Ministry of Regional and Local Government and Housing, confirming that it had received notice of his intended departure, said Jantze had claimed his move was prompted by fears of threats to his life.The town’s affairs have virtually ground to a halt in the past week while the Otavi Residents’ Association (ORA) and the Ministry try to iron out matters related to the swearing-in of new councillors.Two weeks ago, the ORA decided to replace three of its four councillors.They include the Mayor, Markus Damaseb; Deputy Mayor Magdalena Noarises; and the Chairman of the Management Committee, Gerson Gamibeb.Jantze would not say whether his decision to opt out of the town’s hot seat had anything to do with the changes.Residents have accused him and Damaseb of taking decisions without the Council’s consent.The Town Clerk said yesterday that the ousted councillors no longer wanted to attend council meetings but that business could not proceed with only the remaining councillors.The ORA holds four seats on the council and Swapo the other three.”The entire administration and management D nothing is going on because we don’t have a quorum,” he told The Namibian yesterday.Deputy Minister of Regional and Local Government and Housing, Gerhard Totemeyer, said yesterday that he was still not satisfied that the procedures taken to boot the Mayor and two other councillors were aboveboard.The legitimacy of the organisation’s executive is in question after written correspondence was signed by a “chairman” who said he had never served the association in that capacity.A new chairman was elected D but the legitimacy of this move is also being questioned.Last week, the ORA arranged for a Magistrate to swear in their elected replacements, but Jantze said they had no mandate to do so.Jantze informed the Magistrate that this could not be done until the Ministry gave the go-ahead.He said there was nothing more he could do to speed up the process, saying it was up to the ORA to “get their house in order”. He said he had forwarded all documentation received from them to the Ministry.It is unclear how much longer it will take until the process is finalised.Jantze said yesterday he intended to enter the business arena once he leaves the Council’s employ.

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