Deputy Mayor assault fracas to be settled

A CASE involving a charge of assault against the newly elected Deputy Mayor of Swakopmund looks set to be resolved on Saturday when the two parties plan to give a press conference.

John Ngolombe, who is also the Erongo regional co-ordinator of the Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu) and the president of the Lions, Almuth Styles, confirmed that they had reached an agreement yesterday morning to call a press conference. The charge of assault was reported to the Police by the Lions president last Wednesday following an incident in which Ngolombe allegedly pushed the supervisor of the Lions Old Age Home out of the way.Ngolombe apparently wanted to see a union Shop Steward working at the home when the superintendent told him he was not allowed to, unless he told her what it was about.Styles told The Namibian yesterday it was decided to lay an official charge at the Police after Ngolombe became rude and aggressive two days after the incident.She added that the case was made pending in case Ngolombe offered a formal apology.Ngolombe told The Namibian yesterday that he never pushed the superintendent.He further charged that Styles slammed a door in his face when he attended a hearing at the home two days later.Following reports of the assault charge in newspapers last week, Ngolombe on Saturday also stated at the closing ceremony of the annual carnival, Küska, that the alleged incident did not take place.He said he was going to release a press statement on the issue.In his capacity as Deputy Mayor, he was accepting back the “keys of the city” from the Prince and Princess of the carnival.He urged members of the German community to join the Swapo Party saying the handing over of the keys for eight days every year during carnival was a demonstration of his party’s commitment to democracy.Styles said there had always been a good working relationship with the union at the Lions home.About 20 of the 30 employees at the home are members of Napwu.The charge of assault was reported to the Police by the Lions president last Wednesday following an incident in which Ngolombe allegedly pushed the supervisor of the Lions Old Age Home out of the way.Ngolombe apparently wanted to see a union Shop Steward working at the home when the superintendent told him he was not allowed to, unless he told her what it was about.Styles told The Namibian yesterday it was decided to lay an official charge at the Police after Ngolombe became rude and aggressive two days after the incident.She added that the case was made pending in case Ngolombe offered a formal apology.Ngolombe told The Namibian yesterday that he never pushed the superintendent.He further charged that Styles slammed a door in his face when he attended a hearing at the home two days later.Following reports of the assault charge in newspapers last week, Ngolombe on Saturday also stated at the closing ceremony of the annual carnival, Küska, that the alleged incident did not take place.He said he was going to release a press statement on the issue.In his capacity as Deputy Mayor, he was accepting back the “keys of the city” from the Prince and Princess of the carnival.He urged members of the German community to join the Swapo Party saying the handing over of the keys for eight days every year during carnival was a demonstration of his party’s commitment to democracy.Styles said there had always been a good working relationship with the union at the Lions home.About 20 of the 30 employees at the home are members of Napwu.