Omaruru Council in bid to settle resignation row

THE Town Council of Omaruru is set to debate whether it acted correctly when a councillor, who resigned earlier, was elected to serve in the management committee.

Swapo Councillor Gruzi Goseb informed the Council last week that it acted illegally when it elected Heiner Dorgeloh of the Omaruru Residents’ Association to the management committee. Dorgeloh resigned from the Council because of health reasons and nominated Thelma van Rhyn as their new representative but decided to go back at the last minute.Dorgeloh confirmed that he had “resigned temporarily for one month” for health reasons and needed treatment in Cape Town.However, with better local treatment, there was no need for him to travel and he decided to return.He said his resignation was never communicated to the Ministry of Local Government head office and was also not gazetted.However, Goseb said the resignation was valid the minute it was handed in.In a letter to acting Chief Executive Officer Johannes Xoagub, also copied to Mayor Mike Tjirare, Goseb pointed out that a councillor was recognised as having resigned the minute he or she served such a letter.”A councillor’s resignation becomes effective at local council level and not when the line Ministry is notified,” Goseb said.Alternatively, Goseb argued, Dorgeloh was removed from the management committee by the council with a unanimous vote of no confidence because of his conduct in the sale of the Erongo Park.Dorgeloh was chairperson of the management committee.Goseb said the Local Authority Act stipulated that a member of the management committee removed from office by vote of no confidence should not be eligible to such office for a period of one full term.”Mr Heiner Dorgeloh was removed from office on account of corruption and was as such not qualified to be elected to the management committee again,” Goseb said.He called on fellow councillors not to turn a deliberate blind eye to the gross contravention of the Act.”If the council ignores this matter than the council agrees to corruption, because attaining power or authority through unethical means is corruption,” Goseb said.Earlier The Namibian was informed that Thelma van Rhyn was withdrawn because Tjirare and Dorgeloh assumed that she could be manipulated to vote for Tjirare in the election for the management committee.Dorgeloh resigned from the Council because of health reasons and nominated Thelma van Rhyn as their new representative but decided to go back at the last minute.Dorgeloh confirmed that he had “resigned temporarily for one month” for health reasons and needed treatment in Cape Town.However, with better local treatment, there was no need for him to travel and he decided to return.He said his resignation was never communicated to the Ministry of Local Government head office and was also not gazetted.However, Goseb said the resignation was valid the minute it was handed in.In a letter to acting Chief Executive Officer Johannes Xoagub, also copied to Mayor Mike Tjirare, Goseb pointed out that a councillor was recognised as having resigned the minute he or she served such a letter.”A councillor’s resignation becomes effective at local council level and not when the line Ministry is notified,” Goseb said.Alternatively, Goseb argued, Dorgeloh was removed from the management committee by the council with a unanimous vote of no confidence because of his conduct in the sale of the Erongo Park.Dorgeloh was chairperson of the management committee.Goseb said the Local Authority Act stipulated that a member of the management committee removed from office by vote of no confidence should not be eligible to such office for a period of one full term.”Mr Heiner Dorgeloh was removed from office on account of corruption and was as such not qualified to be elected to the management committee again,” Goseb said.He called on fellow councillors not to turn a deliberate blind eye to the gross contravention of the Act.”If the council ignores this matter than the council agrees to corruption, because attaining power or authority through unethical means is corruption,” Goseb said.Earlier The Namibian was informed that Thelma van Rhyn was withdrawn because Tjirare and Dorgeloh assumed that she could be manipulated to vote for Tjirare in the election for the management committee.