Keetmans council under fire

EMOTIONS ran high as Keetmanshoop’s Kronlein residents demanded answers from Town Council on Tuesday over more than N$700 000 allegedly embezzled over a period of seven months by two council employees.

Packed to capacity at the town’s Roman Catholic Hall, residents wanted to know why employees implicated in the alleged theft were treated differently with only one suspended with full pay. It also emerged that the theft, which led to the arrest of the two staffers, had been reported to the local Police without prior consultation with Council.In an attempt to control resident’s tempers from boiling over, Councilor Moses Titus informed the visibly frustrated residents that Council’s Management Committee has already recommend the suspensions of some staff members in its finance department.He said the recommendation would be discussed at council’s ordinary meeting expected within two weeks.”I must admit that the suspensions process had been delayed because of factional infighting among councillors as well as outstanding responses on the legal aspect regarding the suspension Council sought from its legal representatives ,” Titus said.”Some of the staff will definitely be given the marching orders,” Titus assured the residents.In addition, the residents also expressed dismay over the handling of tenders in allocating municipal plots to some individuals including councillors.”Some persons abuse their powers bestowed upon them because of positions they hold to deprive others from benefiting what council is offering by refusing to vacate the plots after their lease agreement terms had expired,” said Clide Krohne, claiming that since 2004 he is struggling for placement on a municipal plot after he won a tender bid.Accusing councillor Basil Brown, who is embroiled in a legal battle after being evict from the municipal plot, of conflict of interest, Krohne claimed Brown had blatantly refused to sign a municipal plot lease agreement after he won the tender bid.However, this was denied by councillor Brown This is the second community meeting Council has convened with its residents living in different suburbs.It also emerged that the theft, which led to the arrest of the two staffers, had been reported to the local Police without prior consultation with Council.In an attempt to control resident’s tempers from boiling over, Councilor Moses Titus informed the visibly frustrated residents that Council’s Management Committee has already recommend the suspensions of some staff members in its finance department.He said the recommendation would be discussed at council’s ordinary meeting expected within two weeks.”I must admit that the suspensions process had been delayed because of factional infighting among councillors as well as outstanding responses on the legal aspect regarding the suspension Council sought from its legal representatives ,” Titus said.”Some of the staff will definitely be given the marching orders,” Titus assured the residents.In addition, the residents also expressed dismay over the handling of tenders in allocating municipal plots to some individuals including councillors.”Some persons abuse their powers bestowed upon them because of positions they hold to deprive others from benefiting what council is offering by refusing to vacate the plots after their lease agreement terms had expired,” said Clide Krohne, claiming that since 2004 he is struggling for placement on a municipal plot after he won a tender bid.Accusing councillor Basil Brown, who is embroiled in a legal battle after being evict from the municipal plot, of conflict of interest, Krohne claimed Brown had blatantly refused to sign a municipal plot lease agreement after he won the tender bid.However, this was denied by councillor Brown This is the second community meeting Council has convened with its residents living in different suburbs.