KEETAMANSHOOP – Expelled Keetmanshoop Rural constituency councillor Gerrit Witbooi said once he returns as councillor, he will ensure the Landless Peoples Movement will never have a majority representation in the //Kharas Regional Council again.
He gave this assurance to a crowd attending a press conference he called, following the political movement’s recent decision to recall him as regional councillor and also terminate his membership in the party.
“Come 15 May 2023, I will stand for the vacant councillor position as an independent candidate, and I am convinced to win the by-election on that day,” Witbooi boasted.
Not specifically explaining as to which side – between Swapo and LPM – he will join then in a possible coalition, he was, however, adamant that LPM will lose its control in the region and further than current //Kharas Regional Council chairperson Joseph Isaacks will be demoted to a position as ordinary constituency councillor.
The axed politician continued that he will not be led by “slave masters” again and will furthermore, as an independent winning candidate, forever stand firm in exampling the truth.
“I was accused by LPM senior leaders of sleeping with Swapo and leaking confidential information, a charge birthed through lies,” he said.
Explaining the reasons for LPM expelling him, Witbooi said: “What is, however, truth is that I opt to vote with my conscience on the appointment of the position of deputy director of finance and administration at //Kharas Regional Council”.
He added that it is in the public domain that Quinton Visagie had been recommended by the interviewing panel, of which the Public Service Commission endorsed the decision accordingly.
“At a //Kharas Regional Council management committee meeting in November 2022, my two colleagues in the management committee, however, opted for the second best candidate, Cecilia Appolus, a decision I did not and still do not support, which led to the conflict between me and the LPM leaders,” he explained.
Witbooi also said he was cleared late last year by Appolus (acting finance deputy director at that time) on accusations of corruption and abuse of travel and subsistence allowance.
“Axing me as LPM member and constituency councillor was, however, only a phase in my life, which made me stronger and a better Gertjie Witbooi,” he said. He also said many other political office bearers who operated on the ticket of the LPM had been recalled without due process and based on untested lies.
“When will the top LPM leadership change for the sake of our residents and supporters who voted them into power during previous elections,” he asked.
He continued that the accusation of him sleeping in the same bed as Swapo is devoid of all truth.
“I am having a deep-founded relationship with the three Swapo constituency councillors in //Kharas region, grounded on a basis of mutual respect and integrity rather than political gain as alleged by LPM,” he said.
Witbooi called on residents of Keetmanshoop Rural to go out and inform people about the real reasons for his expulsion.
“Dear voters, for the sake of persistence and continuity, I am asking you to renew the social contract between us and to vote me back as your councillor to complete the projects I started and restore your dignity,” he concluded.
The //Kharas Regional Council consists of three councillors – each from Swapo and LPM. The by-election to fill the vacant seat is slated for 15 May 2023.