Judge orders the reinstatement of UPM members
Jan van Wyk's decision was 'illegal'
Celeste Becker, Melvin van Wyk and Moretha van Wyk must be reinstated to their previous positions with immediate effect, according to a High Court order.
The Windhoek High Court issued a court order last week setting aside the decision by the president of the United People’s Movement (UPM), Jan van Wyk, to dismiss three former party members.
Judge Shafimana Ueitele ordered that former UPM members Celeste Becker, Melvin van Wyk and Moretha van Wyk, who were relieved of their duties in February and March 2023, must be reinstated.
"The defendants [Jan van Wyk and the UPM's management committee] must, with immediate effect, reinstate each plaintiff to the position to which he or she was elected during the meeting of the elective central committee held on May 14, 2022," the court order reads.
Before his dismissal, Melvin van Wyk was appointed as the UPM’s national treasurer, Becker was the secretary-general and Moretha van Wyk was the party’s national chairperson.
Ueitele found that Jan van Wyk’s decision was illegal and therefore carries no weight.
He also ordered that Jan van Wyk and the UPM’s executive committee pay the legal costs. The case was finalised on 30 July and removed from the roll.
Dismissal
Becker, Melvin van Wyk and Moretha van Wyk filed the case in the High Court in Windhoek in March 2023, in the wake of their dismissal.
According to a statement issued by the UPM at the time, Becker was dismissed because she allegedly placed the party in an “uncertain financial position.”
The UPM stated that while the party had an election budget of N$150 000, it spent approximately N$293 000 and that Becker's reckless spending was undertaken without the approval of the party's management.
Becker also claimed that Jan van Wyk sent “unconstitutional and illegal” letters to them, alleging that they were dismissed from their elected positions in the UPM.
She argued that he and the management committee had no mandate to take such actions and that only the central committee is authorised to do so under the party's constitution.
Judge Shafimana Ueitele ordered that former UPM members Celeste Becker, Melvin van Wyk and Moretha van Wyk, who were relieved of their duties in February and March 2023, must be reinstated.
"The defendants [Jan van Wyk and the UPM's management committee] must, with immediate effect, reinstate each plaintiff to the position to which he or she was elected during the meeting of the elective central committee held on May 14, 2022," the court order reads.
Before his dismissal, Melvin van Wyk was appointed as the UPM’s national treasurer, Becker was the secretary-general and Moretha van Wyk was the party’s national chairperson.
Ueitele found that Jan van Wyk’s decision was illegal and therefore carries no weight.
He also ordered that Jan van Wyk and the UPM’s executive committee pay the legal costs. The case was finalised on 30 July and removed from the roll.
Dismissal
Becker, Melvin van Wyk and Moretha van Wyk filed the case in the High Court in Windhoek in March 2023, in the wake of their dismissal.
According to a statement issued by the UPM at the time, Becker was dismissed because she allegedly placed the party in an “uncertain financial position.”
The UPM stated that while the party had an election budget of N$150 000, it spent approximately N$293 000 and that Becker's reckless spending was undertaken without the approval of the party's management.
Becker also claimed that Jan van Wyk sent “unconstitutional and illegal” letters to them, alleging that they were dismissed from their elected positions in the UPM.
She argued that he and the management committee had no mandate to take such actions and that only the central committee is authorised to do so under the party's constitution.
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