'Booys faction harassing us'
A group of residents of Okahandja are persisting in their drive to oust regional councillor Steve 'Biko' Booys and say they are being threatened and harassed because of it.
Disgruntled Okahandja residents who protested on Friday, 11 January for the removal of regional councillor Steve 'Biko' Booys, say they are not giving up and say that matters have become worse since residents were threatened by town council staff, a matter which is now before court.
At the time, they demanded President Hage Geingob immediately remove Booys from office, adding that if he fails to do so, they will do it themselves. They had given President Geingob three days to do so.
The group now alleges that members of the Booys “faction” have threatened “to harm public members who visit the constituency office. Threats including pouring boiling water on them or stabbing them”.
They say on 21 January, three residents “were not spared the harassment, threats and intimidation and were chased with a knife by one individual while in the constituency office”. A criminal case has been opened and the matter is before court.
“Booys on Wednesday, 23 January, testified under oath that he recruited this person as a receptionist and that all public members who visit his office must go through the person, albeit that the said person is harassing and threatening to kill people who come at the office.”
This follows a meeting which was held on Saturday, 18 January, when a group of more than 200 residents came toegther at the Aurora Primary School.
The group, according to Basie Tjikune, one of the convenors, met to discuss “an update regarding communications sent to President Hage Geingob on 7 December, calling for his intervention in the growing unrest in Okahandja and the subsequent petition sent to his office on 11 January” to remove Booys.
According to a statement released by Tjikune to Namibian Sun, the group resolved that they will persevere in their drive to oust Booys.
They said they “continue to express profound disappointment and shock at the actions of Booys, particularly due to his role as the mastermind behind the group which has caused a lot of disruption, confusion, uproar and which is counter-productive in the town of Okahandja.”
They further maintain that Booys is yet to provide any evidence on progress made at the town since he took office eight years ago, adding that he failed “to come up with capital projects initiated and implemented by his office in Vyfrandkamp, Veddersdal, Oshetu 1 to 3 and Nau-Aib”.
They accuse him of causing division in the town council, allowing “private individuals to masquerade as officials at the constituency office, putting at risk the confidentiality of sensitive documents in the constituency office”. They said their petition to President Hage Geingob to have Booys removed from office remains intact and added that the president be afforded more time to act.
The “community remains ready and steady for any secondary action resulting from this cause”, they said.
YANNA SMITH
At the time, they demanded President Hage Geingob immediately remove Booys from office, adding that if he fails to do so, they will do it themselves. They had given President Geingob three days to do so.
The group now alleges that members of the Booys “faction” have threatened “to harm public members who visit the constituency office. Threats including pouring boiling water on them or stabbing them”.
They say on 21 January, three residents “were not spared the harassment, threats and intimidation and were chased with a knife by one individual while in the constituency office”. A criminal case has been opened and the matter is before court.
“Booys on Wednesday, 23 January, testified under oath that he recruited this person as a receptionist and that all public members who visit his office must go through the person, albeit that the said person is harassing and threatening to kill people who come at the office.”
This follows a meeting which was held on Saturday, 18 January, when a group of more than 200 residents came toegther at the Aurora Primary School.
The group, according to Basie Tjikune, one of the convenors, met to discuss “an update regarding communications sent to President Hage Geingob on 7 December, calling for his intervention in the growing unrest in Okahandja and the subsequent petition sent to his office on 11 January” to remove Booys.
According to a statement released by Tjikune to Namibian Sun, the group resolved that they will persevere in their drive to oust Booys.
They said they “continue to express profound disappointment and shock at the actions of Booys, particularly due to his role as the mastermind behind the group which has caused a lot of disruption, confusion, uproar and which is counter-productive in the town of Okahandja.”
They further maintain that Booys is yet to provide any evidence on progress made at the town since he took office eight years ago, adding that he failed “to come up with capital projects initiated and implemented by his office in Vyfrandkamp, Veddersdal, Oshetu 1 to 3 and Nau-Aib”.
They accuse him of causing division in the town council, allowing “private individuals to masquerade as officials at the constituency office, putting at risk the confidentiality of sensitive documents in the constituency office”. They said their petition to President Hage Geingob to have Booys removed from office remains intact and added that the president be afforded more time to act.
The “community remains ready and steady for any secondary action resulting from this cause”, they said.
YANNA SMITH
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article