Botha resigns from Otjiwarongo management committee

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Local authority councillor for the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), Fearika Botha, on Thursday resigned with immediate effect from the Otjiwarongo Municipality management committee.

Botha now remains an ordinary council member.

She cited a hostile working environment between her and the chairperson of the management committee, Godhardt Hoko.

Botha also accused Hoko of autocracy, tyranny and of allegedly being a councillor who fails to adhere to the rule of the law.

She further labelled him a councillor who abuses the authority of his position as chairperson and allegedly a person who does not want to be corrected when wrong.

Botha stated that Hoko on many occasions during their meetings allegedly failed to be a reasonable man with integrity, or honouring his role as a local authority councillor.

“He even verbally assaulted me several times since September 2021, therefore, I will not serve in any committee he chairs,” said Botha.

She stated that her resignation is an action of protest and a vote of no confidence in the management committee Hoko is chairing.

Hoko on Friday told Nampa in an interview that he will ask the full council to investigate the allegations Botha levelled against him.

“I also deny all her accusations as they are false and baseless,” Hoko charged.

Botha on 14 April 2022 was placed on a one-month suspension after she allegedly assisted a community member to renew a municipality horse stable farming unit lease agreement.

She resumed her duties on 13 May 2022 as a member of the management committee, where she served with Hilde Jeseja.

Mayor Gottlieb Shivute, his deputy Julienda Kampungu, Hoko and Jeseja are Swapo Party members.

Ernst Muraranganda is from the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), while Sebetius Guiteb is from the Landless People’s Movement (LPM).

Botha in October 2021 opened an assault case against Hoko after he allegedly assaulted her verbally during their meetings.

Namibian Police Force (NamPol) spokesperson in the region, Inspector Maureen Mbeha confirmed the defamation and assault case Botha opened on 22 October 2021 against Hoko.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency