High Court restrains IPC

JEMIMA BEUKES

The Windhoek High Court on Friday stopped the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) from proceeding with a disciplinary hearing against Swakopmund councillor Ciske Howard-Smith.

Howard-Smith, who doubled as chairperson of the Erongo Regional Council, was expected to appear before the party’s disciplinary committee on Friday, 22 January 2022.

The cold war between the party and its councillor stems from a probe into her proof of residence after she allegedly failed to submit evidence that she was resident in the Swakopmund constituency.

Off the roll

High Court Judge Justice Angula on Friday interdicted the IPC and its secretary-general (SG), Christine Aochamus, from instituting any disciplinary hearing against Howard-Smith.

They were also ordered to pay Howard-Smith’s legal costs.

Not our business

IPC spokesperson Imms Nashinge yesterday said the party had no interest in the court ruling.

“IPC did not go to court, if you want, that is the business between Ciske and the court,” he said.

In a letter dated 18 January, the IPC informed Howard-Smith through her lawyer Tsuka Luvindao that the disciplinary hearing had been suspended and that there was no need for an urgent application to stop it.

This resolution was passed at a meeting held on 18 January 2022 in Windhoek.

The law firm Conradie & Damaseb was appointed to act on behalf of IPC.

In her answering affidavit, Aochomus told the court that it was not the party’s interest to oppose the relief sought by Howard-Smith, but that the IPC had informed Howard-Smith that it would not proceed with the disciplinary hearing scheduled for 22 January 2022.

According to Aochomus, Howard-Smith’s urgent application was a mere smokescreen to place the disciplinary proceedings in abeyance and that such actions would be defended in due course, hence her resolve not to respond to the rest of allegations in her affidavit.

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