Allexer Namundjembo
Rehoboth’s Block E residents are on the brink of homeownership after decades of waiting.
The Rehoboth Town Council has implemented the alienation scheme in the town’s Block E, allowing residents to become homeowners of the houses they have lived in since 1978.
The scheme will alienate 609 properties.
Rehoboth Local Authority councillor Jacky Khariseb explained at a public briefing last week at the Government Information Centre that the town council successfully implemented the scheme with assistance from the regional governor and various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development and the Ministry of Finance.
“The town council can now alienate these properties, and the residents of Rehoboth, particularly those in Block E, can now own the houses they have been living in since 1978,” Khariseb said.
He explained that, due to Rehoboth’s historical background, the town was unable to benefit from the alienation program in the past.
Residents were initially relocated from Block D to Block E, where they were given brick houses owned by the town council.
“People were given those houses to stay in by the council, and because there were not enough houses, they were provided erven. This was due to the fact that people were unable to own houses at the time. Now, after the council’s efforts, the alienation scheme has finally been implemented,” Khariseb said.
Rehoboth Town Council spokesperson Desiree Pieters clarified that only residents in Block E, particularly those who were forcibly moved from Block D by the colonial regime, will benefit from the scheme.
“The scheme is a great initiative by the government. People have been living in those houses since 1978, and through this scheme, they will become homeowners,” Pieters said.
She also explained that the residents will be issued title deeds, restoring the properties they lost back in 1978.
“They are going to be given title deeds, and they will become property owners. The properties they lost back then are being restored,” she added.
Pieters highlighted that the council will also generate revenue from residents who will be paying rates and taxes once they become homeowners. She pointed out that the town council had written off N$ 26 million in debts and spent N$ 57,000 on transfers.
“The council will finally generate taxes. N$ 26 million in debts have been written off by the council, and N$ 57,000 was spent on transfers,” Pieters said.
She added that some residents had significant outstanding debts, but with the transition, they would start with clean accounts.
“Some houses had debts exceeding N$30,000, but they will now start with clean accounts. These houses were occupied a long time ago, and there has been a generational change, so we have written off those debts,” she added.
The beneficiaries will receive pre-paid water and electricity meters, according to Marks Karongee, the town council’s head of housing and properties, to help them avoid going back into debt.
“The Cabinet decision is very clear. We want to restore the dignity of the residents, and within the next ten years, the new property owners can sell their properties. If they want to sell within ten years, they will need to get approval from the council,” Karongee said.
He also emphasised that the beneficiaries must fulfil their responsibility by paying rates and taxes.
“The only thing we ask of the beneficiaries is that they must play their part by paying their rates and taxes,” Karongee concluded.
The Town Council is also in the process of formalizing informal settlements.
