‘Stupid idiot’: Profanities fly as Grootfontein bosses butt heads

Kenya Kambowe

Rundu

A power struggle at Grootfontein municipality - which has been making headlines for weeks - continues as the town now has two accounting officers, with suspended CEO Kisco Sinvula forcefully returning to work despite a pending labour court case.In widely circulated videos, Sinvula and strategic executive for properties at the municipality, Arnold Ameb, were seen shouting at each other and calling each other ‘stupid’ and ‘idiot’.

This follows just days after urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni summoned all Grootfontein office-bearers to Windhoek last Wednesday for a meeting on the CEO’s suspension.

It appears that the meeting did not yield any positive results as things have now gone from bad to worse, threatening service delivery at the town.

Sinvula, who was suspended by council last month, has decided to resume his duties this week - despite having taken the local authority to the labour court to challenge what he deems an illegal suspension.

However, with Sinvula back at work, it means the Grootfontein municipality has two accounting officers following the appointment of Sarie Hangara as acting CEO.

Not welcome here

According to the chairperson of the Grootfontein municipality management committee, Elizabeth Kastoor, Sinvula is not welcome at work. She further questioned how he will operate since his powers have been stripped.

She said since his suspension, Sinvula was stripped of his signatory powers and blocked from the municipal server, while his subordinates were informed to work with the acting CEO.

“Sinvula is on suspension and he has now forced himself back onto the premises,” she said.

Kastoor also alleged that Sinvula’s return makes him look like someone with a guilty conscious, adding that he is likely to tamper with evidence pending the conclusion of the investigation.

“Why can’t he wait for the labour court to pronounce itself if he is clean? We see his return as that of someone who is tampering with evidence,” she said.

Kastoor added that they have since opened a case of trespassing against the suspended CEO; however, the police have “failed to react”.

I’m back

When contacted for comment, Sinvula told Namibian Sun he will not comply with the suspension, which he regards as illegal.

“I am the substantive CEO. I will not comply with illegal decisions,” Sinvula responded via text message.

He also refused to shed light on whether he is contradicting himself by resuming work while he has a pending case at the labour court.

“What you need to know is that I am back to the office,” he said.

According to council, Sinvula was placed on suspension for a number reasons, including the controversial appointment of Kangueehi and Kavendjii Incorporated to represent the council on legal matters.

The law firm is co-owned by the Swapo Party’s Otjozondjupa regional mobiliser, Clive Kavendji.

Namibian Sun has seen a document proving that the Grootfontein municipality paid over N$800 000 to the firm in question.

Sinvula maintains that the appointment was done in accordance of the law; however, it has been questioned as he is a member of the ruling party’s think tank.

The embattled CEO earlier this year also sought the services of the same law firm to handle a personal matter.

[email protected]