By Charles Tjatindi
WINDHOEK
Residents of Sewende Laan (7th Lane), an informal settlement on the outskirts of Otjomuise, face a myriad of problems caused by the absence of proper sanitary facilities in the area, among others.
Although the City of Windhoek has built some toilets in the area, they are not functional most of the time and are shared by up to five households or more.
For the past two months, residents have had to resort to nearby bushes whenever nature calls as the toilets had broken down. The situation has angered the residents.
“For us women, it is difficult to us e the bushes. We can’t just go into the bushes like that …we will be raped or killed,” said Lydia van Wyk, a resident of Extension 8 of Sewende Laan.
The location of the settlement, which is remotely situated from local shops, churches, clinics and other important service providers, makes it difficult for residents to access these services.
It is the school-going children though that bear the brunt more. With the nearest primary school located more than seven kilometres away, schoolchildren have to get up early and take the long road to school in the semi-darkness of the early morning. Secondary schoolchildren have an even longer road to take each day to school.
“It’s painful seeing your kids suffer like that. But what else can we do? We cannot afford to take them by taxi each day,” remarked Van Wyk.
Since the settlement has not yet been provided with a taxi rank, taxis are charging more than double when commuting passengers to Sewende Laan. Taxis would charge between N$15 and N$20 for a one-way trip to the settlement.
Another resident at the settlement, Rebeca Garures, adds that the unavailability of electricity at the settlement makes it difficult for schoolchildren to study in the evenings.
“Due to the distance, [school] kids only arrive in the evenings at home. By the time they start studying, it’s already dark,” she notes.
Those that are slightly better off than others are having small generators that run on fuel. Even so, they have to do without electricity on certain days when they cannot afford to buy the fuel to operate the generator.
Although the City of Windhoek has provided water facilities in the form of a water point at the settlement , it is mostly crowded as it is the only water point at the settlement.
Despite these challenges though, many residents are thankful to the City of Windhoek for providing them with erven. Most residents resettled here have been living on a piece of land in Otjomuise’s Ankara Street.
“It’s always such a good feeling having your own place. Even if we are faced with these problems, we are not too worried,” said Garures.