KARIBIB – Residents of the Usab and Harambee informal settlements in the Erongo region are appealing to the Karibib town council to bring electricity to their settlements.
The call comes after the death of six-year-old Adrian Oswyn, whose dismembered body was found floating in the sewerage dam at the town, about a kilometre from the settlement.
According to residents of the informal settlements, they have since the gruesome discovery been living in constant fear as their surroundings are so dark and impossible to move around at night due to a lack of electricity.
“We rely mostly on candles and paraffin. But since the murder, we are scared to even sent our children to nearby cuca shops as it is very dark around here in the evening,” one of the residents lamented.
Kelly Rose explained that their neighbourhood is overall crime-free, but the murder of Oswyn is a clear indication that they need to enhance the safety of the settlement. “We walk to fetch water from the communal taps and could do it in the evening without any fear, but we can no longer do that. Everyone is scared, from adults to small children,” she emphasised.
Another resident complained that they have been staying at the settlement from 2017, and have been pleading with council since then for basic services.
“The sentiments of the council always were that we settled here illegally. However, we could not afford the high rent elsewhere, and some of us came to Karibib to look for jobs. That is how we settled here. We are also not the first and last people that will do so, but it is up to the council to make sure that all residents have access to basic services such as water and electricity,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Karibib mayor Davey van Wyk told New Era that they are in the process of formalising the Usab and Harambee informal settlements.
The process will include the installation of basic services and roads infrastructure.
“We received N$1 million from our line ministry, and also set aside another million from our side. One of the challenges we had was the way the shacks were built, but currently 98% of them are adjusting their shacks in the manner the council required,” Van Wyk stated.
According to him, Erongo Red is responsible for the installation of electricity, but can only do so if the specific area is formalised and recognised by council.
“We are getting there, as we are about to hand over ownership certificates to residents of the two settlements,” he added.
Van Wyk said this will happen soon, and that about 1 200 residents from informal settlements will benefit from it. He also indicated that the Navachab mine recently sponsored lights to council, and council intents to install them in the informal settlements.
“We are just waiting on Erongo Red to evaluate the lights so that they can be installed at the settlements,” he continued.