San community criticises attempt to axe Gobabis deputy mayor

The San community in Omaheke has voiced dissatisfaction with the civic association A Right to Shelter Foundation of Namibia (A-RTS-N) over a reported push to remove Dina Fillemon, the newly-elected deputy mayor of Gobabis, following the association's success in the recent local authority elections.In a letter dated 13 December, addressed to the media and the public, the community accused A-RTS-N of exploiting them for votes during the November 2025 elections, before attempting to unseat Fillemon after winning three seats.Although the letter did not name the woman at the centre of the dispute, the association confirmed to Namibian Sun that the representative in question was Fillemon.The letter accused A-RTS-N and its leader, Veronia Mokaleng-Kuzeeko, of courting San communities ahead of the polls to secure electoral success, only to marginalise them once in power. It said the organisation approached San communities before the 26 November elections with promises of upliftment, including improved housing, better access to land and greater inclusion in decision-making processes affecting marginalised residents in Gobabis.Mobilise supportThe communities alleged that the campaign strategically used a San-speaking woman to mobilise support in settlements.“Her presence was no accident; it was a calculated tool to garner support from the very communities the Foundation claimed to champion,” the letter read.The letter added that the strategy had delivered electoral results. However, the community alleged that shortly after the election, efforts began to remove Fillemon from her position, despite the ECN having officially gazetted her name.Media reports over the weekend confirmed attempts by the association to replace her with an individual reportedly not gazetted with the ECN. Fillemon was, however, subsequently sworn in as deputy mayor.“Now, with power in hand, the foundation is adamant to remove this San-speaking lady from her rightful position,” the letter states. “She was duly gazetted by the Electoral Commission of Namibia, her name etched in official records as a legitimate representative. Yet, she faces relentless pressure to step aside.”The communities further alleged that Mokaleng-Kuzeeko escalated the matter by allegedly writing directly to the magistrate presiding over the swearing-in to demand Fillemon's removal.“This is not governance; it is graft,” the letter argued, claiming the move was intended to clear the way for politically aligned individuals.“Our sister is being sidelined to make way for Mokaleng's cronies, insiders who prioritise personal loyalty over community needs," it alleged further.Accusations of hypocrisy and exclusionDescribing their experience as exploitation rather than participation in democratic politics, the community say they were treated as tools rather than partners.“We were used as electoral fodder, our faces for photos, our stories for sympathy, our votes for victory, only to be discarded like yesterday’s campaign posters,” the letter stated.They argue that A-RTS-N’s actions contradict its stated mission, accusing it of hypocrisy and exclusion. The conduct, they say, amounts to “a ‘right to shelter’ that shelters only the elite, while pushing the indigenous further into the shadows”.The letter warns that such practices undermine confidence in democratic processes and leave vulnerable communities open to repeated political abuse.“This disadvantages us profoundly, eroding trust in civic processes and incentivising future opportunists to prey on our desperation without consequence,” the communities wrote.Calling for scrutiny, the San communities urged local, national and international media to investigate the matter. They also called on journalists to engage directly with affected San members and demand accountability.“The Omaheke region, home to over half of Namibia’s San population, cannot afford more broken promises. Our people deserve upliftment, not utilisation for political gain,” the letter stated.Addressing A-RTS-N directly, the communities demanded an immediate reversal of its actions.“Withdraw your letter and leave our sister immediately. Your victory was ours; let the representation be too,” they wrote, warning that failure to do so would expose the organisation as “unstable, unjust and unworthy of trust”.Claims dismissedA-RTS-N has rejected the allegations, calling them false, misleading and politically motivated.The association denied victimising Fillemon based on her background or language ability. It claimed that the ECN incorrectly recorded her name and that, under its internal election procedures, she was not elected at this stage.A-RTS-N said it remains inclusive by design, has lawfully designated its representatives to the Gobabis Town Council, and urged the public not to be misled by what it described as divisive political tactics.NEW: Dina Fillemon. Photo: Contributed

San community criticises attempt to axe Gobabis deputy mayor

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Namibian Sun 2025-12-16

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San community criticises attempt to axe Gobabis deputy mayor

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Namibian Sun 2025-12-16

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