By Eveline de Klerk
SWAKOPMUND – Swakopmund Mayor, Juuso Kambueshe said the informal Democratic Resettlement Community (DRC) founded in 2001 as a temporary resettlement community for people waiting for subsidised houses will be integrated by council in 2015.
The mayor in his Christmas address on Friday said 2015 will mark the transition of DRC from an informal settlement to a proper integrated urban area in the Swakopmund local authority.
The integration and formalisation of DRC has been a thorn in the flesh for the local council.
DRC is home to thousands of poor and landless people in Swakopmund that have erected shacks from highly flammable material and its population is estimated to be around 20 000.
DRC residents have been fighting for almost 10 years now for the formalization of the informal settlement to such an extent that they vowed not to take part in the recently held Presidential and National Assembly elections and even went as far as camping at municipal offices in Swakopmund.
“The formalization of the DRC will not escape its own achievement of success. We have been truthful and transparent with the electorate regarding the formalization process of the DRC. The installation of bulk services have been on schedule as planned. This we can assure residents that we are on par,” Kambueshe explained.
He also said the mass housing Project was already in full swing and council remained positive that 3 034 houses would be completed and awarded to its owners next year.
“The bulk service construction in the DRC is nearing completion and it is remarkable to note that the DRC will soon have 3 034 houses. I can confidently assure the community that this project will be completed successfully. Council last year already awarded a N$26.5 million contract to a contractor for the installation of all main water and sewerage systems at the informal settlement,” he said.