Some Henties Bay residents have rallied against town mayor Lewis Vermaak’s alleged refusal to comply with a ministerial directive to reinstate the suspended chief executive and strategic executive for finance and information technology.
The directive, issued by minister of urban and rural development Erastus Uutoni last month, called for the immediate reinstatement of the two suspended municipal staff members – Elizabeth Coetzee and Eliphas Amunyela.
The municipality suspended the two in 2023, citing rule 35(4)(b) of the personnel rules for the Henties Bay Municipality.
Uutoni intervened, highlighting that the prolonged suspensions violated established regulations.
In the letter dated 18 February, addressed to the chairperson of the council, the minister emphasised the necessity of adhering to legal protocols and ensuring administrative justice.
“While the ministry supports local authority councils to hold their staff members accountable for their actions, it is equally important to ensure that the actions of councils are in conformity with applicable laws,” the minister stated in the letter.
He directed the council to lift the suspensions immediately and allow the staff members to resume their duties pending the finalisation of disciplinary proceedings.
In a petition handed over to Erongo governor Neville Andre at Swakopmund on Monday, the residents accused the mayor of blatant insubordination, alleging that he has been engaging in unnecessary correspondence with the ministry to delay the reinstatement process.
The group demanded the immediate enforcement of the ministerial directive, insisting that the suspended staff members return to their positions without further delay.
“We also seek transparency regarding the financial losses incurred due to the prolonged suspensions and associated legal fees, which we believe have drained municipal resources.”
They further demanded the removal of the mayor, citing misconduct and insubordination, with the removal to be executed under the relevant provisions of the Local Authority Act.
The petitioners also demanded a full investigation into the conduct of the mayor and any councillors who supported the alleged illegal suspensions, emphasising the misuse of taxpayer funds.
Vermaak could not be reached for comment on Monday.
The group has set a seven-day deadline for the council to act, warning of potential legal action, public protests, and direct community interventions if their demands are not met.
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