Rehoboth councillor faces theft charge

A REHOBOTH farmer, Sara Scholtz, has laid a charge of theft against the Regional Councillor for Rehoboth Constituency, Theo Diergaardt, and a Town Council employee, Abba Beukes.

Scholtz claims that the two stole wind-pump equipment from the Town Council camp she leases from the Rehoboth Town Council. Scholtz said she bought the equipment to upgrade the water infrastructure at the camp.The allegedly stolen equipment includes 20 borehole pipes, 20 rods and one wind-pump cylinder.Scholtz yesterday expressed unhappiness over the way Police are handling the case.She said no arrest has been made so far, although she had laid the charge two weeks ago.According to Scholtz, farmworkers saw Diergaardt and Beukes removing the equipment from the camp on a Government bakkie.Yesterday, Inspector !Naruseb of the Rehoboth Police confirmed that the Police were investigating a charge of theft against Diergaardt and Beukes, but added that any arrest at this stage would be premature.He said the Town Council and Scholtz both claimed ownership of the wind pump.But, according to Scholtz, her lease agreement with the Rehoboth Authority, before the Town Council took over the management of the town’s affairs, stipulates that she remains the owner of any equipment she installs at the camp and that she can remove such equipment upon termination of the lease.Diergaardt, who leases a Town Council camp located next to Scholtz’s camp, denied the allegation of theft.”At the time the said equipment was apparently removed from the camp, I was in Windhoek,” he said.The camp is 10 kilometres outside Rehoboth.Scholtz said she bought the equipment to upgrade the water infrastructure at the camp.The allegedly stolen equipment includes 20 borehole pipes, 20 rods and one wind-pump cylinder.Scholtz yesterday expressed unhappiness over the way Police are handling the case.She said no arrest has been made so far, although she had laid the charge two weeks ago.According to Scholtz, farmworkers saw Diergaardt and Beukes removing the equipment from the camp on a Government bakkie.Yesterday, Inspector !Naruseb of the Rehoboth Police confirmed that the Police were investigating a charge of theft against Diergaardt and Beukes, but added that any arrest at this stage would be premature.He said the Town Council and Scholtz both claimed ownership of the wind pump.But, according to Scholtz, her lease agreement with the Rehoboth Authority, before the Town Council took over the management of the town’s affairs, stipulates that she remains the owner of any equipment she installs at the camp and that she can remove such equipment upon termination of the lease.Diergaardt, who leases a Town Council camp located next to Scholtz’s camp, denied the allegation of theft.”At the time the said equipment was apparently removed from the camp, I was in Windhoek,” he said.The camp is 10 kilometres outside Rehoboth.