KEETMANSHOOP – To address the huge housing backlog, Keetmanshoop municipality held a groundbreaking ceremony recently for the construction of 30 houses for low-income residents in the town’s Extension 7 area.

Mayor McDonald Hanse said the ceremony is part of accommodating the homeless through the Build Together scheme.

“It is not required from identified beneficiaries to pay an upfront deposit, while the cost involved amounting to N$80 000 will be expected from them to pay back in agreed-upon instalments,” he staed.

He continued that, once receiving the N$2 million allocated to the Keetmanshoop municipality by the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development in the current financial year, the council intends to construct more houses.

“Considering the high unemployment rate in the town, we resolved to make use of local contractors to construct the houses,” he added.

He said the council is confident in its ability to further address the housing backlog, which stands at 4 000 in light of all the upcoming developments surrounding the town, as a big influx of residents is expected.

He also gave the assurance that the houses would be fully- constructed before the end of this year. When probed on the progress of residents receiving ownership certificates for serviced erven last year, the mayor responded: “As we are speaking, the surveyors are at the site near Fonteintjie, and once they are completed, the council will issue permission to occupy (PTO) letters to the respective beneficiaries.” Interviewed by New Era, Michael Humphries, owner of JMH Trading Enterprises, who were awarded the construction tender of two houses for the initial stage, said the opportunity will help grow his company. “We are thankful that the municipality also considers us small contractors this time around since competition is tough, with all the big companies out there with the needed experience and funding,” he added.

Humphries continued: “I employ four unskilled labourers and two builders, and if we complete these two houses satisfactorily, we might get more to construct later on.”