MARIENTAL – A heated row erupted between the Hardap Regional Council Deputy Director of Rural Services, Jan Herero, and Deputy Director Planning and Development Gerson Hoxobeb, with threats of physical violence between the two. The row that is seemingly rooted in personalities has also involved the Chief Regional Officer Ivonne Boois, with accusations and counter-accusations of lack of accountability and non-performance. All three parties – Herero, Hoxobeb and Boois – confirmed the altercation to New Era with each blaming the other of fuelling the fight.
Herero accused Hoxobeb of being “a stooge of Boois”, and Boois of “running the administrative function of the council like a kangaroo court or a shebeen type of an organisation without rules.”
“Yes the argument did take place and I even opened a case with the Mariental police,“ said Herero, who is upset that Boois delegates certain executive assignments to staff members who are junior to him. Herero singled out a recent incident at the National Planning Commission Regional Development Profile workshop, where Boois assigned a junior staff member to chair the meeting, instead of two directors at the council.
Boois said she has been alerted of the confrontation that took place between Hoxobeb and Herero. She dismissed the accusations made by Herero regarding assigning executive functions to junior staff members saying that is only done when the concerned more senior staff are out of office. She also said Herero refuses to assume accountability at times, forcing her to appoint a junior staff member who is willing to assume accountability for the functions assigned. “I am left with no option but to ask junior members because Herero refuses to take accountability,” said Boois.
Hoxobeb also confirmed the confrontation but declined to comment in detail because the issue has been reported to the police. “All I can say for now is that Herero is childish,” he said furiously.
Regional Crime Investigation Coordinator, Johanna Situde, confirmed that case CR 122/08/13 has been opened and the accused are due to appear in court on September 09.
By Kuzeeko Tjitemisa