Lüderitz
The Deputy Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Derek Klazen, has called on local authorities to investigate ways to make land more affordable to citizens.
Klazen, who was on a familiarisation visit to the coastal town of Lüderitz, complained of the current level of house prices, saying they are too high.
He said the ministry has embarked on programme to try to bring house prices down with the aim of making houses prices more affordable for everybody, including to those who earn very little.
“The ministry has currently embarked on the pilot project in Windhoek, Walvis Bay and Oshakati whereby the local authorities will make land available and the government will service land with the help of donations from the private sector. By this means land prices will be stabilised,” Klazen said.
He further warned local authorities to stop auctioning urban land.
Klazen maintained that the main focus of government is to bring the prices of land down, but the councils first need to service the land and to make land available.
“You must not sit still; talk to the business people in your town and try to service the land. Emulate what the government is doing, so that when the government comes to your town, you are ready,” Klazen said.
He was speaking at the chambers of the Lüderitz Town Council, where he met the town’s management committee to get a brief about the Build Together scheme and other capital projects. He was also to be briefed about Lüderitz’ Structure Plan for 2015-2040.
The CEO of Lüderitz Town Council, Aunie Gideon, explained the challenges hampering the development of the town, especially when it comes to the Build Together programme. Due to the rockiness of the area and the desert topography of the coastal town the bulk of the funds is spent on the foundation of the houses to be built.
Klazen sympathetically expressed concern over the high cost of land servicing at the town, where an average plot is serviced at the cost of approximately N$300 per square meter, almost double the amount needed to service erven in towns like Walvis Bay.
It was also noted that Lüderitz Town Council boasts a clean and up-to-date record, as far as paying its water and electricity bills are concerned.
Klazen further applauded the council for its efforts in delivering services to its residents – with specific reference to land delivery and electrification – despite often having to work under difficult budgetary constraints.