Walvis Bay Mayor drawn into fray as labour dispute turns ugly

THE owners of Magic & Jumbo Discounters (MJD) in Walvis Bay claim that a strike at the company yesterday was the result of a “persistent onslaught” by the National Union of Namibian Workers following an assault incident between one of the owners and the town’s Mayor, King Mandume Muatunga.

Muatunga denies the allegation. The union issued a press release in which it called the company owners, Connie Olivier and her husband Poena, “racist boers” and accused them of alleged nepotism, poor treatment of employees, verbal abuse and other supposed crimes.Connie Olivier and her sister, Lizelle Cordier, were allegedly assaulted by Muatunga in February this year.According to Cordier, the Mayor crashed into her car on February 11 and simply drove away.Cordier said she caught up with Muatunga at a service station and confronted him.She claimed that Muatunga pulled her hair, slapped her in the face and hit her with his fist.Cordier said she then phoned her sister who came to her assistance and was allegedly also pulled by her hair, punched in the face and kicked by Muatunga.The Mayor countered by alleging racism was involved.Olivier’s husband, Poena, who is co-owner and CEO of MJD, said the case was settled out of court, with Muatunga agreeing to pay a settlement amount of N$20 000.Poena Olivier claims that Muatunga has so far only paid N$13 000.After asking Muatunga for the rest of the money on several occasions, Olivier said, he decided to take legal steps.”Then the harassment started,” Olivier said.According to him, this took the form of an inquiry by the Municipal Health Department after a woman apparently complained that a cleaning product she bought at MJD was too strong.That was followed by a grievance because the ingredients of the cleaning products weren’t indicated on the packaging.After that, the union joined in with ridiculous accusations, Olivier claimed.He said he is more than willing to address the accusations regarding his labour practices in court, but the accusers must present proof.Olivier told The Namibian that when he was informed of the plans for yesterday’s strike, he warned workers it would be an illegal strike on advice from a labour lawyer and a representative of the Ministry of Labour.They continued regardless, allegedly threatening workers who didn’t participate and preventing customers from entering the premises, he said.Mayor Muatunga claimed yesterday that Olivier’s claim is “not worth an old shoe”.He said it was inconceivable for anyone to suggest that he would use the NUNW as a channel for revenge.”As far as I am concerned there is no bad blood between myself, the Municipal Council and the proprietors of Magic Discounters,” maintained Muatunga.He warned that legal action might be taken against anyone who maliciously and wilfully attempted to discredit and blemish his name.”The case between myself and Cordier revolves around bigotry and racial discrimination and is currently in the hands of our legal representatives,” he said.The union issued a press release in which it called the company owners, Connie Olivier and her husband Poena, “racist boers” and accused them of alleged nepotism, poor treatment of employees, verbal abuse and other supposed crimes.Connie Olivier and her sister, Lizelle Cordier, were allegedly assaulted by Muatunga in February this year.According to Cordier, the Mayor crashed into her car on February 11 and simply drove away.Cordier said she caught up with Muatunga at a service station and confronted him.She claimed that Muatunga pulled her hair, slapped her in the face and hit her with his fist.Cordier said she then phoned her sister who came to her assistance and was allegedly also pulled by her hair, punched in the face and kicked by Muatunga.The Mayor countered by alleging racism was involved.Olivier’s husband, Poena, who is co-owner and CEO of MJD, said the case was settled out of court, with Muatunga agreeing to pay a settlement amount of N$20 000. Poena Olivier claims that Muatunga has so far only paid N$13 000.After asking Muatunga for the rest of the money on several occasions, Olivier said, he decided to take legal steps.”Then the harassment started,” Olivier said.According to him, this took the form of an inquiry by the Municipal Health Department after a woman apparently complained that a cleaning product she bought at MJD was too strong.That was followed by a grievance because the ingredients of the cleaning products weren’t indicated on the packaging.After that, the union joined in with ridiculous accusations, Olivier claimed.He said he is more than willing to address the accusations regarding his labour practices in court, but the accusers must present proof.Olivier told The Namibian that when he was informed of the plans for yesterday’s strike, he warned workers it would be an illegal strike on advice from a labour lawyer and a representative of the Ministry of Labour.They continued regardless, allegedly threatening workers who didn’t participate and preventing customers from entering the premises, he said.Mayor Muatunga claimed yesterday that Olivier’s claim is “not worth an old shoe”.He said it was inconceivable for anyone to suggest that he would use the NUNW as a channel for revenge.”As far as I am concerned there is no bad blood between myself, the Municipal Council and the proprietors of Magic Discounters,” maintained Muatunga.He warned that legal action might be taken against anyone who maliciously and wilfully attempted to discredit and blemish his name.”The case between myself and Cordier revolves around bigotry and racial discrimination and is currently in the hands of our legal representatives,” he said.