Nangula Shejavali
19 November 2008
THE High Court yesterday issued an eviction order against the 'children of the liberation struggle' who for the last two months have camped outside the premises of the Ministry of Veterans' Affairs in Windhoek.
TransNamib, the owner of the building, which it rents to the Ministry of Veterans' Affairs, lodged an urgent application with the High Court on Friday asking that the demonstrators be evicted from its property on Windhoek's Bahnhof Street.
The Deputy Sheriff presented the demonstrators with the order to move from the premises by yesterday afternoon, but they tore it up in front of the Deputy Sheriff.
The eviction order, presented to them at around 16h00, ordered that they vacate the premises by 17h00.
The Namibian arrived at the scene at 16h20, only to find scattered pieces of paper carrying the specifics of the order.
Despite having heard in the High Court earlier in the morning that TransNamib's application for an eviction order had been granted, the demonstrators decided to stand their ground, refusing to move from the site.
Earlier yesterday, in a courtroom packed with over 80 demonstrators, various media representatives, and several interested individuals, Judge Nate Ndauendapo granted TransNamib the eviction order to remove the demonstrators, who now refer to themselves as "the orphans and homeless exile children".
Ndauendapo informed the group that the order had been granted because "TransNamib is the rightful owner of the premises, not the Government, and documents have been submitted to you to this effect.
As law-abiding citizens of this country, you have to comply with the decision of the court."
At this point in the court proceedings, which had already lasted over an hour with two adjournments in between, Solomo Shinedima, the leader of the group, told the Judge that the group's demands from the Government in the form of education, employment, and national documentation had not been met.
Asked by the Judge whether he understood the ruling, Shinedima replied in the affirmative, but continued to argue the group's case and the large number occupying the premises.
At this point, Judge Ndauendapo cut him off, stating that the order would state the time, and provide reasonable time to vacate the premises.
The order instructs the demonstrators to vacate TransNamib's premises by 17h00, "failing which the Sheriff or his Deputy and the Namibian Police be authorised to evict the respondents," and interdicts and restrains them "from continuing with the disruption or interference with the normal business activities of TransNamib and/or its lawful tenants" (in this case the Ministry of Veterans' Affairs).
Late last night, Elijah Ngurare, Secretary of the Swapo Party Youth League stepped in and plans were afoot to relocate the demonstrators to another place in order to prevent their arrest.
Among several other options, the Ramatex building in Otjomuise has emerged as a potential location being considered for the move, until such time as the registration process has been completed.
"The youth league doesn't want to see them arrested, and we are working around the clock to prevent this scenario," Ngurare said.
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