The Windhoek City Police has opened a case against community activist Shaun Gariseb for allegedly dumping waste at the City of Windhoek office in Katutura last week.
Gariseb led a group of Katutura residents to dump waste at the municipal office’s customer care centre in protest of city officials allegedly ignoring pleas to improve sewage removal in their area.
City police spokesperson Marcelline Murapo told The Namibian on Wednesday that six fines were issued for littering, obstruction of entrance, unauthorised gathering, loitering, public nuisance and indecent behaviour.
She said Gariseb was given a payment deadline.
“Should he fail to pay the fines and fail to appear in court, the case will automatically turn into a warrant of arrest,” she said.
She added that he will not be allowed to gather people in public.
“If he ever gathers people in public, he has to pay,” Murapo said.
Gariseb on Wednesday said he will not pay the fines but will contest them at the traffic court in Windhoek on 18 November.
He said the fines are a way of “scaring him and sabotaging” his participation in the upcoming local authority elections.
Gariseb said he was fined for gathering in public space (N$500), willfully and negligently causing obstruction in public space (N$1 000), spilling human waste and rubbish (N$750), wilfully sit/lie/stand or congregate to obstruct traffic (N$600), creating public nuisance (N$1 000), making indecent gestures (N$1 000) and pedestrian disturbances, among other offences.
“I was forcefully taken to their offices yesterday. Lawyer Kadhila Amoomo came and we told them we will contest the flimsy fines on 18 November,” he said.
“Where are these fines written in the municipal bylaws? They cannot even describe and define the fines cited,” he said.
He added that public gatherings were “colonial restrictions”, noting that they are there for the public to meet, gather and share common ideas as a community.
“Is this restricted in an independent Namibia? Where do political parties meet to campaign?” he questioned.
Earlier on social media, Gariseb said the police came to pick him up at around 11h00 with six cars in front of his shop.
“Apparently they have been looking for me and didn’t know I was at the police station,” he said.
“We also live stream on our Facebook platforms as we confront those who want to silence us the same way the apartheid regime silenced people through the barrel of the gun,” he said on social media.
In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.
The Namibian uses AI tools to assist with improved quality, accuracy and efficiency, while maintaining editorial oversight and journalistic integrity.
Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for
only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!
