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Keetmans Acting CEO Says Suspension Unlawful 

By: Justicia Shipena 

Bartholomeus Jegg Christian refused to vacate office after the Keetmashoop municipality had served him with a notice of suspension on Friday. 

Christian, the strategic executive for economic development and community services at the municipality, held the acting position of the town’s chief executive officer at the time of suspension. The current CEO was on sick leave for a week. 

According to Christian, he received the immediate notice of suspension on Thursday without pay. He argues that the suspension was unlawful; hence he did not have reason to vacate the building. 

“I got the suspension yesterday with immediate effect and without payment. My view is that it is unlawful, and therefore, I have no obligation to respect it,” he said. 

Chaos broke at the municipal building when Christain showed up at the office with the mayor Keetmanshoop calling for the intervention of the police. 

He stressed that there was no reason why he was suspended; however, he told The Villager that it was an internal issue. 

“They did not specify what I did. I want them to specify what I did. I was not suspended from lawfully constituted council or management committee meetings. There was no meeting notice or agent a, I have seen no minutes of any meeting, and I have written to the mayor to provide me with that,” he explained. 

When he showed up at the office, he said several councillors and some Landless People Movement (LPM) members came to the office to force him to exit the building. 

“After I refused to exit, they left.”

Christians now demands clarity on his suspension. 

“I want to know if the written complaint gave rights to the suspension. I am not aware of any written complaint against me,” he adds.

Moreover, he assumes that the events of 06 July led to his suspension as the notice referred to that day’s events.

“There was a trip by two councillors on the morning of the 06 July. I learned about this trip while monitoring the vehicle track system, but there was authorisation for the vehicle to be in Kalkrand. So I instructed for the termination of the fuel card,” said Christian.

He narrated that later that afternoon, at around 15h00, he was given S&T claims for the two councillors, which he believed were on that trip. 

“There was no motivation for the trip, so I refused to sign the claim. I am now assuming since they referred to events of the 6 July, maybe that is why they are suspending me.”

The town’s management committee and mayor could not be reached at the time of publication. 

 

Justicia Shipena

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