Keetmans Council in tatters

A MEETING of the Keetmanshoop Town Council degenerated into chaos on Monday after rowdy scenes between some councillors.

The meeting’s aim was to address the internal strife between the Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Jeremia Shangadi, and Councillor Moses Titus. The row between the two has been continuing since 2004.After Titus took the floor to read a six-page statement explaining his side of the story, councillors Fiina Elago, Arnold Losper and Basil Brown continuously interrupted him.”You’re to be blamed for the backbiting in the Council that hampers the town’s development,” Elago interjected.”Advocate Titus, please sit down, your speech is too long,” Brown interjected.”Come to the point and just tell us what your problem is,” Losper added.Titus claimed that Shangadi had failed on several occasion to consult the Council before taking crucial decisions.He dismissed accusations of tribalism and having a vendetta against Shangadi or any other councillor.According to Shangadi, Titus has made several racist remarks about him.It was claimed at the Council meeting that a group of councillors, including Brown and Shangadi, had held a secret meeting at Lafenis Lodge on the outskirts of the town before the Monday Council session.Brown denied that the group had discussed any Council matters, while Shangadi denied having attended such a meeting.He said he was only called to draft a letter calling for Monday’s meeting.Mayor Simon Petrus Tiboth was the first to walk out of the meeting after continuous wild interjections.A municipal worker, Mathew Johannes, and Councillor Titus nearly traded blows outside the Council building afterwards.A row developed after Johannes pointed his finger at Titus, claiming the councillor had created division among officials by spreading false rumours.Johannes had been called in to address the Council meeting.Rumours had been doing the rounds that Johannes was allegedly receiving kickbacks for issuing vehicle roadworthy certificates.The row between the two has been continuing since 2004.After Titus took the floor to read a six-page statement explaining his side of the story, councillors Fiina Elago, Arnold Losper and Basil Brown continuously interrupted him.”You’re to be blamed for the backbiting in the Council that hampers the town’s development,” Elago interjected.”Advocate Titus, please sit down, your speech is too long,” Brown interjected.”Come to the point and just tell us what your problem is,” Losper added.Titus claimed that Shangadi had failed on several occasion to consult the Council before taking crucial decisions.He dismissed accusations of tribalism and having a vendetta against Shangadi or any other councillor.According to Shangadi, Titus has made several racist remarks about him.It was claimed at the Council meeting that a group of councillors, including Brown and Shangadi, had held a secret meeting at Lafenis Lodge on the outskirts of the town before the Monday Council session.Brown denied that the group had discussed any Council matters, while Shangadi denied having attended such a meeting.He said he was only called to draft a letter calling for Monday’s meeting.Mayor Simon Petrus Tiboth was the first to walk out of the meeting after continuous wild interjections.A municipal worker, Mathew Johannes, and Councillor Titus nearly traded blows outside the Council building afterwards.A row developed after Johannes pointed his finger at Titus, claiming the councillor had created division among officials by spreading false rumours.Johannes had been called in to address the Council meeting.Rumours had been doing the rounds that Johannes was allegedly receiving kickbacks for issuing vehicle roadworthy certificates.