Uutoni rubbishes Sinvula suspension

The minister of Urban and Rural Development has rendered the suspension of Grootfontein Town Council’s CEO invalid.

Erastus Uutoni said the Grootfontein municipality did not consult him before suspending CEO Kisco Sinvula and directed council to rescind the decision, in a letter dated 29 March 2022, to the town’s mayor and council.

Sinvula was allegedly suspended after a special council meeting last Thursday over the procedure used to appoint a law firm to represent the council.

“Your attention and that of the entire council is drawn to section 29(1)(a) (i) of the Local Authorities Act 1992 as amended, which requires a council to first obtain prior written approval of the minister when considering to suspend or discharge its CEO,” said Uutoni in the letter addressed to mayor Talitha Garises.

Uutoni said the act requires council to first inform the minister of its intention to suspend a CEO before the actual suspension.

“In light of the foregoing, council is hereby directed to comply with the law and if it has acted in violation thereof, to rescind its decision and act in strict compliance with the cited provision of the Act.

Sinvula’s ‘suspension’ came after weeks of internal squabbles among Swapo councillors and district leaders.

Garises, who Uutoni addressed the letter to, served as mayor for less than a week before she was suspended and recalled by the Swapo district executive committee towards the end of February.

Garises, who was sworn in as Grootfontein mayor on 17 February, faced suspension along with other party cadres for allegedly supporting members of the opposition for management committee positions.