Namdeb drags LPM to court
Claims ‘will damage diamond company’s reputation’
Members of the political party have accused Namdeb and its directors and employees of crime, corruption, bribery, nepotism and racism.
Diamond corporation Namdeb has approached the Windhoek High Court in an attempt to force the Landless People’s Movement (LPM) to remove allegedly defamatory posts from its social media platforms.
Namdeb filed an urgent application against LPM and some of its members. Parties appeared in court last Wednesday.
Namdeb is seeking an injunction prohibiting members of LPM, as well as its supporters, from continuing to distribute, publish or post allegedly untrue and defamatory statements against the company, its directors or employees. The statements include that Namdeb and its directors and employees are reportedly involved in crime, corruption, bribery, nepotism or racism.
Petitions
Namdeb and LPM have been involved in a dispute since October last year. This after Namdeb fired one of LPM’s members, Gaume Stephanus, on the basis of disciplinary issues related to “baseless statements” made by him, which apparently brought the company into disrepute. LPM then handed over a petition at Namdeb’s branch in Oranjemund and a demonstration was held.
According to the CEO of the diamond corporation, Riaan Burger, the party made “untrue” and “defamatory” statements in the petition. It accused Namdeb of being home to harassment, bullying and structural violence. It further stated that Namdeb had “adopted a tactic to silence staff members”.
The petition also said Stephanus was harassed and intimidated on a daily basis, while the company was accused of tax evasion.
In March this year, LPM handed over another petition demanding that Burger step down as CEO.
In the petition, the party reportedly referred to Burger as a “cartel boss” and “dictator”. The protests were allegedly also broadcast live on LPM’s Facebook page.
Reputation
Burger, who has served as Namdeb CEO since 2017, said LPM’s claims will cause national and international damage to the company’s reputation - something that is very important in the diamond industry. “The diamond industry is a highly sensitive one and the buyers of diamonds are particularly concerned about governance issues within the industry.
“Where baseless and untrue allegations are made suggesting that [Namdeb] and its senior management are guilty of criminality in whatever form, it not only impacts [the corporation’s] reputation nationally, but also internationally, ” his statement read.
In LPM’s heads of argument, it argued that the application should be dismissed, and that Namdeb has not made a case for an interdict to be granted.
The party also argued that it has no control over its members and supporters. “We had more than 30 000 supporters vote for us in the 2019 election and those supporters are not even aware of this application and, in any case, are not going to be aware of the order,” court documents read.
The case was made against the party, leader Bernardus Swartbooi and his deputy Henny Seibeb, as well as Sade Gawanas, Melody Swartbooi and Easter Isaak. The matter was adjourned until 24 April.
Namdeb filed an urgent application against LPM and some of its members. Parties appeared in court last Wednesday.
Namdeb is seeking an injunction prohibiting members of LPM, as well as its supporters, from continuing to distribute, publish or post allegedly untrue and defamatory statements against the company, its directors or employees. The statements include that Namdeb and its directors and employees are reportedly involved in crime, corruption, bribery, nepotism or racism.
Petitions
Namdeb and LPM have been involved in a dispute since October last year. This after Namdeb fired one of LPM’s members, Gaume Stephanus, on the basis of disciplinary issues related to “baseless statements” made by him, which apparently brought the company into disrepute. LPM then handed over a petition at Namdeb’s branch in Oranjemund and a demonstration was held.
According to the CEO of the diamond corporation, Riaan Burger, the party made “untrue” and “defamatory” statements in the petition. It accused Namdeb of being home to harassment, bullying and structural violence. It further stated that Namdeb had “adopted a tactic to silence staff members”.
The petition also said Stephanus was harassed and intimidated on a daily basis, while the company was accused of tax evasion.
In March this year, LPM handed over another petition demanding that Burger step down as CEO.
In the petition, the party reportedly referred to Burger as a “cartel boss” and “dictator”. The protests were allegedly also broadcast live on LPM’s Facebook page.
Reputation
Burger, who has served as Namdeb CEO since 2017, said LPM’s claims will cause national and international damage to the company’s reputation - something that is very important in the diamond industry. “The diamond industry is a highly sensitive one and the buyers of diamonds are particularly concerned about governance issues within the industry.
“Where baseless and untrue allegations are made suggesting that [Namdeb] and its senior management are guilty of criminality in whatever form, it not only impacts [the corporation’s] reputation nationally, but also internationally, ” his statement read.
In LPM’s heads of argument, it argued that the application should be dismissed, and that Namdeb has not made a case for an interdict to be granted.
The party also argued that it has no control over its members and supporters. “We had more than 30 000 supporters vote for us in the 2019 election and those supporters are not even aware of this application and, in any case, are not going to be aware of the order,” court documents read.
The case was made against the party, leader Bernardus Swartbooi and his deputy Henny Seibeb, as well as Sade Gawanas, Melody Swartbooi and Easter Isaak. The matter was adjourned until 24 April.
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