New mayor wants own fine scrapped

NEWLY elected Keetmanshoop Mayor Basil Brown apparently approached the town’s CEO, Paul Vleermuis, recently to have a building fine scrapped from his name.

Brown incurred the fine, of N$2 000, when he last year started construction on a building at the town without the plans having been submitted or approved by the Town Council. Brown on Monday denied making the request and Keetmanshoop CEO Vleermuis declined to confirm or deny the request.In his denial Brown said he has never received the fine claim, but a source at the town said the fine is reflected on Brown’s monthly municipal bill. The new mayor labelled the request affair as nothing but politicking by disgruntled fellow Town Councillors. When The Namibian broke the story last year, former Keetmanshoop Finance Manager, Berti Reynecke, said Brown had been fined N$2 000 for starting construction without an approved building plan. Private builder Sarel du Toit, who was contracted by Council to approve building plans, also said then that construction was already underway when he received the plans for approval of a double-storey building. Brown’s building plan has since been approved and the building completed. luqman@namibian.com.na