Niël Terblanché
In a determined move to tackle the housing crisis, the Swakopmund municipality has announced the donation of 379 erven to families living in the DRC informal settlement, marking a crucial step in the coastal town’s efforts to provide housing to over 22,000 residents on waiting lists.
This groundbreaking initiative was revealed last week, focusing on the DRC settlement’s extensions 27, 29, and 30.
The town council of Swakopmund, after careful consideration, identified the beneficiaries of these plots on serviced land, aiming to assist first-time homeowners.
In documentation provided by the Swakopmund Municipality, the local authority confirmed that the central government had provided the necessary funds to service the land.
Linda Mupupa, the municipality’s spokesperson, stressed that these plots could not be sold for profit as the government had already financed the installation of municipal services which means the land must be donated to beneficiaries.
The initiative primarily targets DRC residents already living on the land. The council has published a list of potential beneficiaries in local newspapers and on bulletin boards at the municipality, inviting public scrutiny.
“We encourage anyone with evidence that a listed individual already owns land in Namibia to come forward with such information,” Mupupa noted.
The full list of beneficiaries and transaction details will be available for public inspection at the Swakopmund municipality in Room BO-12. To ensure transparency and address any concerns, the council has set a deadline for objections to the proposed donation.
Objections must be submitted in written form, and only hard copies will be accepted, as clarified in the council’s notice.
Swakopmund Mayor Dina Namubes highlighted the importance of affordable housing as a fundamental right during the first council meeting last week.
She reiterated the council’s commitment to addressing homelessness and providing housing-first initiatives as part of their strategy to ensure every resident has a safe and affordable place to call home.
This initiative to provide service plots to beneficiaries is a clear testament to Swakopmund’s commitment to inclusive growth and community development.
By allocating erven in the ‘old DRC’ to registered tenants, the council hopes to realize the homeownership dreams of many and contribute significantly to solving the housing challenges in the region.
