Former Keetmanshoop mayor approaches court for reinstatement
Written by Staff Reporter on August 25, 2026
Former Keetmanshoop mayor Melody Swartbooi has approached the High Court to review and set aside her unceremonious removal by the Landless People’s Movement (LPM).
The LPM in June this year withdrew Swartbooi as its representative on the Keetmanshoop Town Council, resulting in her losing her mayoral position.
Swartbooi was fielded as a candidate by the LPM for local authority public office holders during the 2025 local and regional authority elections.
In the notice of motion Swartbooi argues that the party failed to give her proper notice or a fair hearing before withdrawing her as a council representative.
She wants her withdrawal as a council member and the subsequent appointment of Emrico Blaauw as mayor – along with her replacement on the council – declared unlawful and set aside. She is also claiming lost remuneration and employment benefits.
“The applicant is also seeking a court order that the third and fourth respondents being the council for the Keetmanshoop municipality and acting chief executive, as the case may be, restore the employment benefits and remuneration package of the applicant and backpay the applicant the remuneration she would have received from 5 June 2026 to date of this order,” reads the review motion.
LPM operative secretary Dirk Eigub, the Keetmanshoop Town Council, Keetmanshoop municipality acting chief executive Adam Isaak, officials, current mayor Emrico Blaauw, councillor Kallie Goliath and minister of urban and rural development James Sankwasa are listed as respondents.
They have been served with court papers and given 15 days to respond.
LPM in June informed Swartbooi that the decision to recall her was taken in terms of Section 13(1)(g) of the Local Authority Act and following internal party considerations.
Swartbooi has publicly contested her dismissal, claiming she was targeted because she refused to cover up local council irregularities, including alleged forgery, fraud and flawed tender allocations.
She also alleges persistent bullying and intimidation by party leadership dating back to her swearing-in ceremony in December 2025, alongside ungrounded accusations that she was cooperating with Swapo.
