Smith-Howard seeks to kill IPC birds with one stone
The former chairman of the Erongo regional council, Ciske Smith-Howard, is currently applying in the Windhoek High Court for the merger of two cases she filed against the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC).
Parties appeared before Judge Nate Ndauendapo on Wednesday and the case was adjourned until 16 May.
According to a court order, Smith-Howard will submit her arguments before 9 May and the IPC before 11 May.
The respondents in the two cases are the same and include the national secretary of the IPC, Christine Auchomas, and the Erongo regional council.
"The application amounts to an abuse of the court process in that two cases must be joined in circumstances where the claimant [Smith-Howard] does not explain why she did not simply amend her claim details, but instead instituted new proceedings under a different case number," Auchomas said in a recent statement.
Cases
In the first case, filed in December 2021, Smith-Howard requested that the court declare her suspension from the IPC invalid.
She claims her "verbal" suspension from the party, in October 2021, was not in compliance of the party's constitution as she was not notified of any complaint against her as determined by an independent investigator.
She further claimed that she was not given the opportunity to respond to the allegations that led to her suspension and that she was never informed of her suspension in writing.
In the other case, she is demanding more than N$1.65 million in damages from the IPC, Auchomas and the council.
Smith-Howard said in her claim details that she was elected as IPC representative on the council on 25 November 2020. She had the reasonable expectation that she would complete her term, which would last until November 2025, but on 16 May 2022, her contract with the party was terminated and she was consequently removed as a council member.
She claimed the IPC's "illegal actions" resulted in her losing a combined monthly compensation of N$1 646 899 - from May 2022 to November 2025 - and demanded that the IPC pay her this amount.
Parties appeared before Judge Nate Ndauendapo on Wednesday and the case was adjourned until 16 May.
According to a court order, Smith-Howard will submit her arguments before 9 May and the IPC before 11 May.
The respondents in the two cases are the same and include the national secretary of the IPC, Christine Auchomas, and the Erongo regional council.
"The application amounts to an abuse of the court process in that two cases must be joined in circumstances where the claimant [Smith-Howard] does not explain why she did not simply amend her claim details, but instead instituted new proceedings under a different case number," Auchomas said in a recent statement.
Cases
In the first case, filed in December 2021, Smith-Howard requested that the court declare her suspension from the IPC invalid.
She claims her "verbal" suspension from the party, in October 2021, was not in compliance of the party's constitution as she was not notified of any complaint against her as determined by an independent investigator.
She further claimed that she was not given the opportunity to respond to the allegations that led to her suspension and that she was never informed of her suspension in writing.
In the other case, she is demanding more than N$1.65 million in damages from the IPC, Auchomas and the council.
Smith-Howard said in her claim details that she was elected as IPC representative on the council on 25 November 2020. She had the reasonable expectation that she would complete her term, which would last until November 2025, but on 16 May 2022, her contract with the party was terminated and she was consequently removed as a council member.
She claimed the IPC's "illegal actions" resulted in her losing a combined monthly compensation of N$1 646 899 - from May 2022 to November 2025 - and demanded that the IPC pay her this amount.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article