WALVIS BAY – The Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) has advised Daniel Stramis, who was recently disgraced over a sex scandal involving a 13-year-old girl, to recuse himself from his duties as an RDP councillor.
Stramis who is in police custody is the RDP municipal councillor at Usakos.
This follows after the councillor was arrested last week Monday for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl at the town.
The 37-year-old Stramis was arrested and appeared in court last week Wednesday and was denied bail.
RDP vice-president Steve Bezuidenhoudt told New Era the RDP wants Stramis to recuse himself from council following a meeting with the party’s president, Hidipo Hamutenya, that was held in Windhoek on Monday.
Media reports in 2006 indicated Stramis was also embroiled in a legal matter with the family of a 15-year-old girl from Usakos who had accused him of allegedly fathering her child.
Apparently Stramis was charged with “immoral practices” after allegedly impregnating the girl.
He however denied the charge, but was subsequently suspended by the Congress of Democrats
(CoD) of which he was allegedly a member, pending the outcome of a police investigation.
It is not yet clear what the outcome of that case was. Asked whether the party was aware of such claims, a surprised Bezuidenhoudt said they were not aware of such claims, but told New Era that Stramis only joined RDP in 2009.
“The party’s leadership and members are utterly shocked by Stramis’ arrest, but one must let the legal system take its course as no one is above the law,” Bezuidenhoudt said yesterday.
According to him, the party will not tolerate such behaviour from any of its members .
“Our members are elected to uphold the party’s name and to serve party members and the communities they are elected for,” he said.
“They must serve the interest of our community and must be an example for others. Therefore this incident is unacceptable and justice must be allowed to take its course as no one is above the law.”
He also told New Era the party will conduct its own investigation as they are also not sure of all the details regarding the current allegations.