Vaalgras chiefs ready for gazetting

NAMES of recently appointed Traditional Councillors of Vaalgras by the Chief of the Vaalgras Traditional Authority, Joel Stephanus, have been placed on the Gazette list for publication.

They are Erich Binga, Thomas Jahrs, Aloysius Boois, Regina April, Susanna Maria Fredericks, Franzina Apollus, Andries Basson, Willem Louw and Johannes Boois. The Namibian has it on good authority that Local Government Permanent Secretary, Erastus Negonga, in a communiqué requested Karas Regional Council to notify the Vaalgras Traditional Authority that the names had been placed on the Gazette list for publication. A concerned group led by Daniel Apollus had petitioned against the procedures followed by Chief Joel Stephanus when he elected the councillors on February 14. Earlier, Stephanus contended that he was mandated by the Traditional Authority Act to elect the councillors at his sole discretion. The petition signed by 160 petitioners had been sent to the Local Government Minister. In letter dated July 22, of which The Namibian has seen a copy, lawyer Tim Probart representing the group requested Local Government Minister Jerry Ekandjo not to proceed with the approval and gazetting of the councillors’ appointment. This followed after Ekandjo had failed to respond to the group’s petition.Probart argued that Stephanus unlawfully exceeded his authority which is limited by Section seven and Section 10 of the Traditional Authority Act when read with prevailing customary law. ‘Due to highly sensitive nature of the above matter which is the root cause of a serious conflict within the Vaalgras Community you are herewith respectfully requested to confirm to our offices in writing, by no later than August 31, that you will not proceed with the above approval and gazetting of the councillor nominations,’ the letter stated. ‘Should we not receive such written confirmation by August 31 we will have no other option but to approach the High Court of Namibia for an order preventing you from doing so,’ the letter further reads. Probart yesterday said he had not received any reply concerning the letter. Probart further confirmed that he had not yet approached the High Court to object the appointment and gazetting of the councillors, saying he is still waiting for further instructions from his client.Attempts to get comment from Daniel Apollus proved futile yesterday. luqman@namibian.com.na