KEETMANSHOOP - The ongoing animosity between the Landless People’s Movement leadership and Gerrit Witbooi has resulted in the Keetmanshoop Rural constituency councillor’s unceremonious expulsion from the party.
After a social media video of Witbooi burning the party flag went viral last Sunday, the LPM released Witbooi from his position and duty as the regional councillor earlier this week and with immediate effect.
In a short letter to the //Kharas chief regional officer and copied to the council’s regional chairperson, the party’s operative secretary Dawid Eigub said, “Gerrit Witbooi is released from his position and duty as councillor of Keetmanshoop Rural constituency with immediate effect.”
The letter, dated 14 February, was also send to Witbooi.
The councillor was late last year suspended for three months and banned from attending regional council, extraordinary council and management meetings at //Kharas Regional Council.
In a recent post on social media, the political movement accused the councillor of employing underhanded tactics to paint himself as a victim or unsung hero.
“Witbooi’s actions are contrary to the party values, principles and social change,” the media statement read.
It continued that the last meeting between Witbooi and LPM leader Bernadus Swartbooi (who was in attendance at a community meeting in Aroab at the time of the flag burning incident) was a robust conversation on the disappointment, concern and betrayal of the actions Witbooi has taken against the party and failure to uphold his mandate.
Witbooi on social media, however, responded that fellow LPM leaders have been tarnishing his name amongst members since last year.
“This has been ongoing since I fell out of favour with the party leadership when refusing to rubber stamp the appointment of a deputy director of finance at the //Kharas Regional Council while the Public Service Commission recommended another candidate,” said the politician in the post.
Approached by New Era, Witbooi said he will not at this stage comment on the letter releasing him from his duties, neither will he vacate his office as he is still waiting on legal answers whilst in consultation with his lawyer.