WALVIS BAY – One person died, and over 100 families were displaced on Friday evening when another shack fire ravaged an illegal settlement where many, who came seeking greener pastures, had been occupying land since last year.
The fire occurred around 18h30 at a piece of land situated close to Otweya, which belongs to the National Housing Enterprise (NHE).
Ironically, the illegal occupiers had been removed numerous times from the land before the fire.
Authorities also discovered that at least 70 of the illegal settlers are not Namibians.
The devastating fire once again highlights the challenges of delivery of serviced land and affordable housing the town of Walvis Bay has been battling with for years, as over 30 000 of the town’s residents either live in backyard shacks or rental properties.
One of the victims of the shack fire earlier told New Era that they were forced to look for alternative accommodation due to high rental costs.
As a result, many of them illegally settled on the NHE land, hoping to be relocated to Farm 37 before the shack fire destroyed all their belongings.
Warrant officer Tuyenikelao Tashiya said the fire started in the middle of the illegal settlement, and spread rapidly to approximately 200 shacks.
These shacks are normally made out of highly flammable material.
“The fire was extinguished by the Walvis Bay Municipality fire brigade. Sadly, the body of a male person was found in the debris. His next of kin have not yet been informed, as they are not yet known at this stage,” she said.
The cause of the fire is yet to be established.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Walvis Bay Municipality said in response to the urgent needs of those displaced, it coordinated temporary shelter for the affected families at one of its buildings to ensure their immediate safety and comfort.
“This morning, two large tents were provided as temporary shelter to give the affected families time to plan accordingly. The affected persons are expected to coordinate alternative living arrangements,” the statement reads. Furthermore, the affected families were provided with mattresses, blankets and other necessary items, which were generously donated by the Round Table.
A soup kitchen service was also provided by Twaloloka Aid Support and Kindness.
All donations to this effect are being coordinated through the municipality.
The municipality also confirmed that at least 70 of the fire victims are non-Namibians.
They will now engage with the home affairs ministry next week to pave the way forward for the undocumented immigrants.
The council said they will take a firm approach against illegal land occupation, as these actions are the cause of such catastrophes and loss of life. “Our team was able to establish that most of the shacks are owned by people who have homes in Walvis Bay or outside Walvis Bay, and merely erect these structures for purposes of leasing them at exorbitant rates,” the councillors indicated.
They also stated that the municipality is committed to fostering collaboration with stakeholders, including developers and residents, to ensure that land use in Walvis Bay adheres to legal and ethical standards.
“We extend our deepest gratitude to our incredible fire response team for their bravery, dedication, swift action and professionalism. In addition, we would like to acknowledge the outpouring of support from donors who have stepped up by providing essential items and resources to bring a level of comfort and hope to those in need during this difficult time. Our hearts go out to everyone affected by this unfortunate incident, and the council will continue to offer the necessary support to the affected families within reasonable means,” the council said.