A group of concerned residents in Henties Bay is petitioning for the removal of the town's mayor, Lewies Vermaak, accusing him of defying ministerial directives and obstructing effective governance.
The petition, which garnered over 200 signatures, comes in response to Vermaak's failure to reinstate two suspended municipal staff members, CEO Elizabeth Coetzee and finance manager Lifas Amunyela.
The suspension of the two officials is at the heart of the controversy.
Coetzee was suspended in October 2023, while Amunyela's suspension began in July of the same year.
The Henties Bay Municipality had cited rule 35(4)(b) of its personnel regulations in the decision, but residents argue that the suspensions have gone on longer than what is legally permissible under the Local Authorities Act, which stipulates that suspensions should not exceed six months in the name of unhindered investigations.
In response to the prolonged suspensions, the Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, issued a directive last month calling for the immediate reinstatement of both officials.
However, Vermaak has reportedly ignored the minister's order, with residents alleging that this disregard has led to disruptions in municipal services.
On Monday, a group of over 200 residents visited Erongo Governor Neville Andre in Swakopmund to express their frustrations over the issue.
They presented their petition, which not only calls for the reinstatement of Coetzee and Amunyela but also demands the removal of Mayor Vermaak.
"The undersigned residents of Henties Bay hereby submit this urgent petition to your esteemed office regarding the blatant defiance of your ministerial directive by the Mayor of Henties Bay. The directive to reinstate the two (2) suspended staff members of Henties Bay Municipality, including the Chief Executive Officer, is being ignored and delayed at a great cost to the Council and the community. Furthermore, the mayor is writing letters back and forth between the ministry to have his defiant plan of not adhering to the directive executed," said community activist Jessica Basson.
The residents cited misconduct and insubordination as grounds for the mayor's removal, invoking provisions under the Local Authority Act.
The petitioners are also calling for a thorough investigation into the conduct of Vermaak and any councillors who may have supported the suspensions, emphasising concerns about the misuse of taxpayer funds.