Landless People’s Movement (LPM) supporters are questioning their party loyalty following the sudden, unexplained removal of Keetmanshoop mayor Melody Swartbooi from her position.
Staunch supporters are saying withdrawing a councillor without disclosing a reason is an “administrative illegality”.
LPM withdrew Swartbooi from her position and revoked her representation on the town council with immediate effect over the weekend.
She was elected as mayor in December last year, following the regional council and local authority elections.
Former LPM ||Kharas Regional Council chairperson Josef Isaaks says Section 13(1)(g) of the Local Authorities Act must be read to completion as it further speaks of the rights and dignity of members withdrawn from public office.
“There are hand clappers of Swartbooi that are downplaying the recall, but there are concerned members in the party and community who voted and are disgusted by the action. A principle of legality says you must disclose the reason for sacking,” he says.
Isaaks says Swartbooi was a hardworking young person from the LPM’s Youth Command during the election campaign, who, with others, helped the party gain enough votes to remain in local authorities.
“Judging from what LPM leaders are doing, we’re starting to think they don’t want support in the ||Kharas region,” he says.
Isaaks is a suspended LPM member, along with others such as former mayor McDonald Hanse, who had been accused of trying to take over the national LPM leadership.
In a letter sent on Sunday and signed by LPM operative secretary Dawid Eigub, the party informed Swartbooi that the decision was taken in line with the Local Authorities Act, following internal party considerations.
“This missive serves to inform you that you are withdrawn from your position as the mayor, and your representation of the party on the Keetmanshoop Town Council is revoked with immediate effect,” the letter reads.
The party did not provide reasons for the decision.
LPM national spokesperson Lifalaza Simataa says the move is in line with the party’s internal processes.
“The decision was aligned with the party’s strategic plan in exercising the deployment and redeployment to best achieve party goals,” he says.
This response is, however, not sufficient for some party and community members, who took to the streets on Monday condemning the decision.
The protesters are demanding Swartbooi’s reinstatement and say they are aiming to approach the Anti-Corruption Commission.
LPM member Willem Isaaks says those who voted in favour of LPM are now doubting their support of the party “as there is no transparency and it seems the LPM has a hiring and firing policy”.
“We want a leadership we can trust, a leadership that respects people and that does not react to hearsay or rumours. What did Melody do that was regarded as transgression?
“You interview people behind her back while it’s your own member? How can we trust that and continue voting, while the LPM is treating our sons and daughters anyhow?”
Willem asks whether it was okay to use the youth and “dump” them.
“Melody went and other youth under her leadership went from town to town, house to house, to campaign for this party only to be dumped without a reason,” he says.
Eigub says the LPM will have a meeting at Keetmanshoop on Saturday to get clarity on the matter.
Swartbooi has previously denied any wrongdoing.
She said there have been rumours of her siding with the Independent Patriots for Change and Swapo, but added there is a record showing this allegation is not true.
“Until today I don’t have a charge sheet informing me what I have done wrong. But in terms of the rumours there was a motion of no confidence tabled against LPM councillors.
“I did not vote with Swapo, and the minutes of the meeting show that,” she said.
Swartbooi, however, reiterated that it would be good to hear from the party’s leaders why she had been withdrawn.
