SHOCK AS MR GAY NAMIBIA STRIPPED OF TITLE

Just days before the end of his reign, Wendelinus Hamutenya, the current Mr Gay Namibia, had been stripped of his title.

Hamutenya, a 25-year-old personal financial consultant from Windhoek, was crowned the first-ever Mr. Gay Namibia last year. He went on to compete in the Mr Gay World competition in Johannesburg in April this year.

Over the weekend, the organisers of Mr Gay Namibia announced in a media statement that Hamutenya was no longer the title holder.

“It has come to the attention of the Mr Gay Namibia organisation that Mr Wendelinus Hamutenya , the former title holder of the Mr Gay Namibia 2011 title, is accused of unbecoming conduct. Due to the gravity of the accusations against him the Mr Gay Namibia organisation had no alternative but to suspend him with immediate effect on November 24 2012, pending the outcome of the investigation,” said organiser Chris de Villiers.

He added that Hamutenya now has “no representative capacity and may not provide any interviews, nor any media statements with regard to, or on behalf, of Mr Gay Namibia.”

While the organisers declined to specify what exactly led to Hamutenya being ousted, The Namibian reported that it could be related to “a domestic violence case pending against him in Johannesburg, South Africa”.

Hamutenya told the newspaper that he had heard rumours about his suspension and admitted that he had been involved in a domestic violence case but said that it had been withdrawn.

He also claimed that the organisers were trying to sabotage his projects, adding “I’m very disappointed in them.”

In November last year, the then newly-crowned Hamutenya, was beaten in an attack near his home by two men who demanded his Mr Gay Namibia prize money.

The 2012 Mr Gay Namibia Finale will take place on Friday 30 November at the Playhouse Theatre in Windhoek.

Last year’s runner-up, Herman Feddersen, will attend the event in place of Hamutenya and will hand over the title to the new winner.

Mambaonline was unable to contact Hamutenya or the Mr Gay Namibia organisers at the time of writing.