The former chief executive officer (CEO) of the Outjo municipality, Joseph Urib, is taking action to challenge his sudden termination.
In a letter from his legal representation, Sisa Namandje and Co, seen by The Namibian, Urib’s legal team highlighted several key concerns regarding his dismissal.
According to the letter, Urib received a termination notice that lacked specific reasons and was not preceded by a disciplinary hearing or any other lawful process, as required by the Labour Act.
According to the letter, his termination constituted an unfair dismissal as per section 33 of the Labour Act.
In the midst of this dispute, Urib had served a three-month retirement notice on the municipality, with his anticipated final working day being 31 December 2022, as he reached the age of 60 on 7 April 2022.
The municipality, however, extended his employment beyond this retirement date.
On 24 October 2022, the council resolved to extend Urib’s employment beyond his retirement, citing the potential delay in appointing a new CEO.
Subsequently, on 25 April 2023, the council passed a further resolution to continue extending Urib’s employment, as the process of appointing a new CEO remained incomplete.
Urib’s legal team noted that the termination of his employment on 22 August 2023, occurred while the process of appointing the new CEO was still ongoing, raising questions about the legality of the termination.
Urib has been at the helm of the town for over two decades.
Days before his employment was terminated, the community wrote to the council through the Outjo Residents Group, demanding that he be removed.
They claimed Urib was responsible for the town’s declining state of infrastructure and poor service delivery.
The lawyer’s letter further argued that the meeting that led to Urib’s dismissal did not conform to the requirements outlined in the Local Authorities Act of 1992, particularly section 14.
As a result, the meeting is deemed illegal, and any resolutions originating from it are considered invalid.
As a result of these concerns, the letter petitions for the withdrawal of the termination notice on or before 8 October 2023, with a request for the reinstatement of Urib’s employment and remuneration until the finalisation of the recruitment process.
Town mayor Joseph Bapello confirmed that the council received the letter. However, he declined to discuss the matter further.
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