Marginalised communities’ deputy minister Royal ǀUiǀoǀoo has taken a swipe at businesspeople for taking advantage of vulnerable San communities by seizing their documents after giving them alcohol, food and other goods on credit.
In an interview with New Era on Friday, he lashed out against the exploitation following a recent report about pensioners in the Tsumkwe area being tricked into debt as well as overcharged for personal profit.
“It is deeply concerning that some non-marginalised individuals are exploiting our marginalised communities,” he stated.
“While I am advocating for their issues at national level, there are people on the ground who are supposed to stand up for them, but are not doing enough”, he observed.
He went on to emphasise the need for marginalised communities to have regional councillors from their own backgrounds, who can better understand and address their challenges.
“I am not suggesting this in a segregational way. I am proposing it based on shared experiences so that the councillor can genuinely advocate for the interests of the people. Our communities are suffering because some of those in charge lack an intricate understanding of their issues,” the deputy minister said.
When New Era visited the #Otcaqkxai village recently, elderly headman Ikunta N≠amce raised what he described as “an aggressive matter of his pensioners without documentation.” He emphasised that businesspeople in the area have been seizing the social grant documents of San pensioners, and withholding them as collateral for debts.
“Some of them are there,” N≠amce said, pointing to //uce //xari, an elderly woman who confirmed that her documents were being held by a local businesswoman in Tsumkwe.
“I don’t know how much I owe her. But I have her money,” //xari said softly, revealing her lack of understanding of the supposed debt. When approached, businesswoman Maria Jembe admitted to holding //xari’s documents, claiming she owed her N$1 800. However, Jembe asserted that //xari had willingly handed over her documents as security for food and financial support.
“She has eight children in total, and some of them come here, so I give them money,” Jembe said.
Although she offered to return the documents, other business owners engaged in similar practices could not be reached for comment.
Response
Tsumkwe constituency councillor Johannes Hausiku acknowledged the widespread issue, and expressed his concern. “This matter has been going on for a long time, and the police are also aware. There was a time when the business community was informed that it was illegal. The documents were handed over, but later we heard they had been taken back again,” he said.
An activist, who requested anonymity, accused businesspeople of exploiting vulnerable San pensioners by inflating debts. “They know the social grants are much lower than the amounts they claim. Why do they give so much to people in need? It’s inhumane,” the activist said.
Hausiku later informed New Era that he and senior police officers are planning meetings with business owners to remind them of the illegality of confiscating documents. Another meeting will be held with affected community members to raise awareness, and educate them on their rights. When questioned about the effectiveness of these measures, Hausiku gave the assurance that with police support, a “strategic move to address the matter promptly” would be implemented.