Okahandja activist Gerub Gaseb has crossed swords with mayor Beatrix Kotungondo over a decision to send two councillors to Lüderitz for the crayfish festival.
Gaseb wants all councillors to stay at the town and be part of the ongoing mourning process in light of the murders of three young girls recently.
Two councillors have so far been cleared to attend the festival – Landless People’s Movement councillor and former mayor Natasha Brinkmann and Independent Patriot for Change deputy mayor Akser Aupindi.
This according to Kotungondo.
However, Gaseb says four councillors have been allowed to attend the festival.
“I decided that I will not be going, but only the deputy mayor and councillor Brinkmann. If they (activists) are talking about anything else, I do not know what they are talking about. When we have our event, I will invite Lüderitz. Yes, we are in mourning, but why should the other councillors not go?” Kotungondo says.
However, Gaseb, who co-organised a child safety protest this week where a petition was handed over to deputy minister of education, innovation, youth, sport, arts, and culture Dino Ballotti, has vowed to stop the trip.
“We have finished handing over the petition and now the town council wants to travel to Lüderitz for the crayfish festival. I spoke with the mayor and I said I am not going to allow that. We are mourning here. She also wanted to travel, initially, but she has sent her deputy. If the expo had continued today, would they have travelled?” he asks.
In the meantime, Brinkmann has confirmed that she was already on her way to Lüderitz, but she took time to attend the memorials of the three murdered children.
“I was already at the memorial today and I am on my way to Lüderitz. It was already decided, the office already assigned me to go,” says Brinkmann.
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