Ex-mayor Kafula in court battle over Khomasdal house

Former Windhoek mayor Agnes Kafula has approached the High Court to evict a relative from a Khomasdal house that belonged to her ex-husband, the late Colonel Shaanika Kafula, and to administer his estate, estimated at more than N$4.5 million.The relative, Reginald Iipinge, is opposing Kafula’s attempt to evict him from Erf 2036, Khomasdal Extension 12, and has filed a counterclaim challenging her ownership of the property.Kafula and Shaanika were married in community of property before their divorce on 13 June 2016.Shaanika died on 21 March 2019 at Ongwediva Medipark, after which his son, Leonard, was appointed executor. The court papers do not say if Leonard is Kafula's son or stepson.Kafula says the administration of the estate entitled her to Shaanika’s interest in the property, which was subsequently transferred into her name.Iipinge alleges the property was transferred to Kafula without the knowledge or approval of Shaanika’s estate, while Shaanika's son and executor, Leonard Kafula, says he did not knowingly authorise the transfer.Kafula maintains that she is the lawful owner.“I am the legal owner of the property situated at Erf 2036, Khomasdal, Windhoek. There is no agreement between myself and Iipinge, authorising him or anyone residing with the defendant, to reside and/or occupy my property. Therefore, Iipinge is in unlawful occupation of the property,” she says in court papers.Transfer allegedly not endorsedIipinge says he moved into the house in 2012 to care his uncle Shaanika during his illness, after Agnes had left the matrimonial home.He alleges the property was endorsed in Kafula’s name on 25 October 2022 without the knowledge or approval of the executor or heirs.Iipinge also says he spent about N$200 000 between 2012 and 2024 on repairs, refurbishments, improvements, appliances, furniture and security systems.His counterclaim includes N$28 653 which he says was a balance on the City of Windhoek water account.Leonard supports Iipinge’s account that Shaanika asked him to move into the house in 2012 to care for him and intended for him to remain there.He says this was reaffirmed at an ‘Omwaale’ gathering in 2019 attended by family members, including Kafula.“The family elders confirmed my father's instruction that Reginald stay on the property. [Agnes] Kafula did not contest this at the time and even removed her remaining belongings from the house in 2019,” Leonard says in court documents.Leonard says he endorsed Iipinge’s continued occupation as executor and claims that Kafula was paid N$400 000 in 2020 for improvements she alleged to have made to the property.“It was my understanding as executor that this payment would bring all disputes regarding the house to an end,” Leonard’s court papers say.He says he was later called to Standard Bank in Okahandja in October 2022 to sign “urgent documents” for estate funds to be released, but alleges the documents were not read or explained to him.Leonard says he subsequently discovered that his signature was made on a 29 August 2022 settlement agreement and an application for endorsement of the title deed.“I did not know I was signing over the house to Kafula, and I never authorised ENS Africa or any conveyancer to transfer the property,” he says.Leonard alleges he was misled into signing the settlement agreement and did not consent to Kafula becoming the sole owner.Family meeting disputedRauha Nikanor, headwoman of Iipumbu Village under the Uukwambi Traditional Authority, disputes part of the account surrounding the 2019 family meeting.She says the meeting, chaired by the late Joel Uutoni, discussed Shaanika’s assets, particularly those on communal land and subject to traditional customs.Nikanor denies giving a letter stating that the Khomasdal property should be given to Iipinge.“I did not give any letter to the late Mr Joel Uutoni or to any other person stating that Erf 2036, Khomasdal (Extension No. 12), Windhoek, belonging to the late Marti Shaanika Kafula, should be given to Iipinge.“I am also not aware of anyone at the meeting stating that Iipinge should be given the said property,” Nikanor notes in her affidavit.She says the only statement she recalls from Uutoni was that the house was under the municipality’s control.Kafula declined to discuss the case when contacted by Namibian Sun.“I cannot really comment on the case now, because it is not finalised. We are still waiting for the court to pronounce itself,” she said.Criminal caseLeonard has also questioned the administration of his father’s estate, which he estimates was worth more than N$4.5 million, alleging discrepancies between its value and the amounts distributed.“Due to the discrepancies in the estate’s total value, which I estimate at over N$4.5 million compared to the much lower amounts distributed, and the unauthorised transfer of the property, I have officially reported these irregularities to the authorities," he says in court documents.He says a criminal case was opened at the Otjomuise Police Station to review the "nature of the documents and the conduct of those involved in the estate administration".

Ex-mayor Kafula in court battle over Khomasdal house

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Namibian Sun 2026-10-07

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Ex-mayor Kafula in court battle over Khomasdal house

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Namibian Sun 2026-10-07

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