By Mbatjiua Ngavirue
GOBABIS
The Gobabis municipality expects to receive a budget of N$6,8 million from central government as part of a nation-wide policy to eradicate that hated legacy of apartheid – the labour compounds for migrant workers, or Single Quarters.
Government’s policy is that the labour compounds that blight the landscape of every town around the country must be consigned to the dustbin of history once and for all.
Various cities and towns have adopted different approaches towards solving this problem.
Some towns seem to have chosen to simply redevelop their single quarters into family units, while also developing additional housing in new areas.
Others, including Gobabis, have however decided to demolish their Single Quarters altogether – erasing them from all memory.
Mayor of Gobabis, Platini Katjaoha, said the town received N$3,8 million from national government last financial year, with another N$3 million set aside for 2007/8 to complete the project.
The Gobabis compound houses 80 people in the main buildings, surrounded by 175 shacks, which, according to a survey carried out by the municipa- lity, house 222 residents.
Once the Single Quarters are demolished, the municipality will build 37 family housing units and six business plots on the old site.
The municipality will offer relocated compound dwellers several options in terms of housing.
Those with the financial means will have the option to buy one of the 37 family housing units built on the site of the old single quarters.
The council is also in the process of building 150 toilet units on serviced plots with water, sewerage and electricity in the area known as Tswanablok.
Single Quarters residents will receive priority access to the serviced plots, although other residents of the town can also apply for plots.
Serviced plots provided by the municipality under an earlier programme were only 150 square metres each.
Katjaoha, however, said government policy was not to give people title deeds to plots under 300 square metres, and all the new plots will conform to this policy.
Those who cannot afford the serviced plots will have the option of relocating to plots at Freedom Square with shared services, such as pre-paid water points.
According to Katjaoha, Single Quarter residents are very positive about the relocation plans.
“There has been no resistance from their side, because most of them want the place to be demolished,” he said.