Tjongarero vs NYC: Court battle postponed

The High Court is set to hear arguments in February 2025 on the legality of youth minister Agnes Tjongarero’s decision to use her discretion to appoint a board of her choice to oversee the affairs of the National Youth Council (NYC).High Court judge Shafimana Ueitele yesterday postponed the case between NYC and Tjongarero to next year in order to give the court time to review the matter.Tjongarero will have the opportunity to present her reasons to the court then. As a result, the interim board appointed by the minister will not serve the council until the case is finalised.The council also elected its board at their general assembly last week, which was not sanctioned by the minister. The delegates went ahead nonetheless and elected Simon Taapopi as executive chairperson along with Veparura Kandirikira, Luciano Kambala, Yolande Sabatta, Melinda Mogotsi, and Ester Simon.Accusations of biasTjongarero’s move was widely criticised within youth circles as politically biased, prompting the court action. The minister maintained that the board defied her instructions at any given chance, and thus she decided to show them the door.She subsequently appointed an interim board consisting of Curtis Andrew, Beverly Silas, Hendrik Theofilus, Victoria Itta and Nghoshi Panduleni.Opposition leaders such as the Popular Democratic Movement’s (PDM) youth leader secretary general Julia Nekwaya accused the minister of appointing a board solely aligned with the Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL), sidelining youth affiliated to other political parties. Nekwaya labelled the decision as biased, arguing it undermines NYC's credibility.The ongoing court case seeks to nullify the minister’s decision to remove the previous board, set aside the directive to halt the general assembly (GA) and prevent the minister from implementing decisions related to the board's removal. The group also argues that the directive to halt the GA, where they elected leaders for inclusive representation, is unlawful. They demand the minister pay the costs of the application.Decision defended The youth ministry defended the interim board’s appointment, describing it as necessary to prevent a leadership vacuum and maintain NYC operations.According to a letter obtained by Namibian Sun, the interim board’s tasks include facilitating the GA and serving as its electoral committee. The board members are prohibited from running for election during the assembly and will serve for up to six months, or until their responsibilities are fulfilled, with the possibility of an extension.This dispute underscores broader tensions surrounding political inclusivity in youth representation in Namibia. The court's ruling is expected to have significant implications for the governance of youth institutions in the country.

Tjongarero vs NYC: Court battle postponed

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Namibian Sun 2026-04-21

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Tjongarero vs NYC: Court battle postponed

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Namibian Sun 2026-04-21

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