Concerned residents of Henties Bay are demanding the immediate reinstatement of their suspended CEO Elizabeth Coetzee and finance manager Lifas Amunyela.
A committee of over 200 residents who signed a petition on Monday, visited Erongo governor Neville Andre to air their frustration over the suspensions.
Residents at the same time also accused town mayor Lewies Vermaak of deliberately defying a ministerial directive that called for the reinstatement of the employees.
The group, who met with Andre on Monday in Swakopmund, said that Vermaak is ignoring the minister’s order to reinstate the suspended officials, saying this negatively affected services at the municipality.
They are now demanding that Vermaak be removed as mayor if he refuses to reinstate the two employees. Coetzee was initially suspended by the council for six months in October 2023, while Amunyela was suspended in July last year.
The Local Authorities Act stipulates those suspensions should not be longer than six months — to allow for unhindered investigations. However, the pair is still on suspension with benefits.
The urban development minister Erastus Uutoni, in a letter addressed to Vermaak last year, expressed his concern over the prolonged suspension and its impact on municipal operations.
“The extended suspension of the CEO is a serious concern as it affects service delivery and the implementation of capital projects,” Uutoni wrote in his correspondence to the mayor.
He pointed out that Rule 35 (a) of the gazetted Council Personnel Rules states that a staff member’s suspension should not exceed six months.
“There may be reasons for extending the suspension, but it should be reasonable enough to allow for an investigation, the formulation of charges and a disciplinary process.
The CEO has been on suspension since October 2023 without her case being heard or finalised,” Uutoni said.
He also requested a report from the council to state why the prolonged suspension is not in violation of the law.
Community outrage
Meanwhile, frustrated residents said the ignorance of the ministerial directive is disrespectful, and puts residents at the receiving end.
“The mayor continues to obstruct the reinstatement of these staff members. This is unacceptable, and should be put to an end,” the representative of the residents said during the meeting. They are now also demanding accountability for financial losses incurred due to the prolonged suspension, including legal fees that have drained municipal resources.
“We demand the immediate enforcement of the ministerial directive. Coetzee and Amunyela must come back to work,” representatives appealed. Andre, upon receiving the petition, assured the residents that it would be forwarded to the minister for further action.
Efforts to accord Vermaak right of reply on Monday were unsuccessful.
– edeklerk@nepc.com.na