Uutoni tight-lipped on damning Gobabis claims
Councillors highlight 'unlawful' salary adjustments
"We have written reports and letters, but silence remains the response," two councillors - who have reported alleged corruption at the Gobabis municipality - said.
Two Gobabis councillors have accused urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni of ignoring their calls to address corruption at the town, including the alleged shredding of 17 garbage bags of official documents and unlawful salary adjustments amounting to about N$5 million.
In an open letter, Isak de Beer, who is also the chairperson of the municipality's management committee, and Elvire Theron claimed that they had personally submitted documents relating to these complaints to Uutoni in April and followed up with him as well as requested a meeting when he visited the town. “The purpose of this open letter is to urge the honourable minister to clarify whether he has reviewed the reports and to explain the reason behind his silence. We have written reports and letters, but silence remains the response,” the letter read.
Nothing done
In another letter dated 27 March, De Beer and Theron accused Gobabis CEO Sophia Eises of interfering with council decisions, adding that she reportedly blocked them from suspending technical staff members in the electricity department.
“Trips to Windhoek are constantly made to lawyers and key offices of which the management committee knows nothing. We are not informed of these decisions even after the trips have been made. Subsistence and travel allowance claims are there to prove these undiscussed trips,” it read.
According to the duo, 17 black bags of documents were shredded after suspended staff members were reinstated recently. Despite having reported the issue to the police and the council resolving to investigate, nothing has been done to date, they said.
De Beer also accused Eises of usurping powers to remove him as chairperson. However, according to her, she only wrote the letter on behalf of the council.
On leave
Eises distanced herself from the claims, saying she was on leave when the documents were shredded and she only acted on a court document for the salary increments.
“The salary adjustment was not me. The former CEO signed a salary agreement with the Namibia Public Workers Union [Napwu] and Napwu took the council to court. When I came here, the council lost the case and all I did was implement [the court order]. I am not a councillor; there is no way I can block De Beer and Theron [from suspending staff]. When the other councillors are against a decision, such as the suspension of staff, then they vote accordingly. They [De Beer and Theron] are only two councillors and the others are seven,” she explained.
According to Theron, they have no faith in the minister responding to them, adding that they have been through all the avenues over the last four years.
“We are faced by a vote of no confidence, but we are not intimidated. That minister [Uutoni] does not respond to anything. They have their plans,” she said.
Meanwhile, the town's residents have been protesting alleged corruption at the municipality since last Thursday.
Uutoni, who said he is busy and could not talk, did not respond to requests for comment by the time of going to print.
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In an open letter, Isak de Beer, who is also the chairperson of the municipality's management committee, and Elvire Theron claimed that they had personally submitted documents relating to these complaints to Uutoni in April and followed up with him as well as requested a meeting when he visited the town. “The purpose of this open letter is to urge the honourable minister to clarify whether he has reviewed the reports and to explain the reason behind his silence. We have written reports and letters, but silence remains the response,” the letter read.
Nothing done
In another letter dated 27 March, De Beer and Theron accused Gobabis CEO Sophia Eises of interfering with council decisions, adding that she reportedly blocked them from suspending technical staff members in the electricity department.
“Trips to Windhoek are constantly made to lawyers and key offices of which the management committee knows nothing. We are not informed of these decisions even after the trips have been made. Subsistence and travel allowance claims are there to prove these undiscussed trips,” it read.
According to the duo, 17 black bags of documents were shredded after suspended staff members were reinstated recently. Despite having reported the issue to the police and the council resolving to investigate, nothing has been done to date, they said.
De Beer also accused Eises of usurping powers to remove him as chairperson. However, according to her, she only wrote the letter on behalf of the council.
On leave
Eises distanced herself from the claims, saying she was on leave when the documents were shredded and she only acted on a court document for the salary increments.
“The salary adjustment was not me. The former CEO signed a salary agreement with the Namibia Public Workers Union [Napwu] and Napwu took the council to court. When I came here, the council lost the case and all I did was implement [the court order]. I am not a councillor; there is no way I can block De Beer and Theron [from suspending staff]. When the other councillors are against a decision, such as the suspension of staff, then they vote accordingly. They [De Beer and Theron] are only two councillors and the others are seven,” she explained.
According to Theron, they have no faith in the minister responding to them, adding that they have been through all the avenues over the last four years.
“We are faced by a vote of no confidence, but we are not intimidated. That minister [Uutoni] does not respond to anything. They have their plans,” she said.
Meanwhile, the town's residents have been protesting alleged corruption at the municipality since last Thursday.
Uutoni, who said he is busy and could not talk, did not respond to requests for comment by the time of going to print.
[email protected]
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