Minister of Urban and Rural Development James Sankwasa has met with the Khomanin community after previous meetings over the leadership failed to produce results.

The community had demanded to meet the minister directly after the previous engagement ended in chaos.

Sankwasa told the community that the removal or de-gazettement of a traditional leader must follow prescribed legal and community procedures. 

He advised them to approach the regional governor and formally submit their request for the removal of their chief.

"writing to me to say we have heard about elections, and all the things are not correct because the designation of chief or whatever must come through the government of a given region, who must give a company letter and make recommendations, so to come to me directly without the involvement of that procedure does not work. You should have gotten it to the government of the region, submitted your request, and submitted your results of your petition or removal of the chief in terms of your tradition."

The minister also clarified that an internal audit is not intended for public consumption, although a general audit may be made available to the public.

However, speaking on behalf of the social activist, Shaun Gariseb expressed disappointment, saying the minister had not reviewed the deposition submitted by the community before responding to their concerns.

"What we will do now and what we have already planned is because you must remember we are dealing; we are acting on a mandate from the community. So we already knew, should the minister go this route, we will take him to court and an expert application, and we are going to get an order against him. We are also going to inform the head of state that this minister's grandstanding is becoming too much."

Gariseb said the community would not stop at the minister's office and could escalate the matter further, including taking their concerns to the presidency if necessary.