WALVIS BAY – The Walvis Bay Municipality plans to relocate hundreds of residents to Farm 37 to address illegal land occupation in the town.
The council, at its last meeting, approved a relocation and land management plan to remove people occupying land that belongs to the Build-Together programme, National Housing Enterprise and selected backyard dwellings.
The decision forms part of the municipality’s broader efforts to restore order in affected areas, improve living conditions, and ensure lawful and structured land administration within the Municipality of Walvis Bay jurisdiction.
Walvis Bay has been grappling with the shortage of land and land-grabbing issue for years with residents due to increasing rental prices as well as the influx of people searching for jobs.
According to the 2023 Namibia Statistics Agency census results, the population of Walvis Bay, including the nearby Langstrand area, now stands at 102 704.
The census further shows that 31 822 residents in Walvis Bay live in informal housing, making the town the third-largest contributor to Namibia’s informal urban population after Windhoek and Rundu.
Walvis Bay municipality spokesperson Anita Kaihiva earlier told New Era that the town is facing increasing pressure to provide affordable housing and land to its growing population.
“According to a 2023 socio-economic survey conducted by the municipality, which is currently being updated, there are approximately 23 000 backyard shacks housing about 42 000 people.
The municipality’s waiting list for housing and erven includes 1 600 applicants under the Build Together Housing programme, 22 165 for the National Housing Enterprise, and 2 240 pre-approved clients,” she explained.
She also explained that only four community groups have been allocated land at Farm 37. Backyard informal structures put extra pressure on municipal infrastructure, including water, sewer, and electricity,” Kaihiva said.
However, the Council now, to address illegal land occupation, approved that portions of land at Farm 37 be set aside for temporary relocation of qualifying beneficiaries currently occupying erven illegally.
“This also includes persons currently occupying land illegally within Kuisebmond as well as selected backyard residents from Kuisebmond and 50 households from Narraville backyard areas,” the council indicated in a statement released on Monday.
In addition, an extra portion of Farm 37 has been earmarked to serve as a reception area to support and manage the relocation process, which will be implemented concurrently with the development of the first portion.
According to the council, beneficiaries approved for the relocation process will have to sign permission to occupy certificates which will regulate their temporary occupation and allocate the land.
The council also says only people who physically stay in the identified structures will qualify for relocation.