The former mayor of Keetmanshoop, Melody Swartbooi, has sought recourse in the High Court to have her withdrawal as mayor reviewed and set aside.

The Landless People's Movement (LPM) in June this year withdrew Swartbooi as its representative on the Keetmanshoop Town Council.

In his opening statement during the court challenge in which Ovaherero chief Vipuira Kapuuo is seeking to nullify the claim of Mutjinde Katjiua as the Paramount Chief of the Ovaherero. Advocate Raymond Heathcote argued that Katjiua is attempting to assume this title through what he described as a "coup d'état."