Walvis Bay loses case against landless people

THE Walvis Bay Magitrate's Court last week ruled in favour of residents whose shacks were demolished by the municipality in Tutaleni informal settlement last week.

The municipality had approached the court seeking an order to evict the shack dwellers after realising that the demolition of the shacks was illegal. Since their shacks were destroyed, the residents have been living in the open. According to a court order seen by The Namibian, the case was dismissed because the municipality was supposed to approach the High Court as the application falls outside the jurisdiction of the local magistrate's court. The order also states that the municipality's lawyers failed to show up in court on Friday morning and later that afternoon. Henry Shimutwikeni represented the residents on behalf of the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement. In a statement on Friday, AR leader Job Amupanda said the movement would file a civil case against the police for taking down the shacks without a court order. Landless People's Movement (LPM) member Rosa Namises applauded the Walvis Bay residents for standing up to the municipality by staying put on the land.