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Home / Groot Aub residents irate over underdevelopment
Groot Aub residents irate over underdevelopment
2015-06-22Staff Report 2 Windhoek Groot Aub residents once again reiterated their desperate cry for land and development. At a Windhoek Rural Constituency meeting convened by the inhabitants of the constituency, residents bemoaned the slow pace of development in Groot Aub. “For the past 10 years development is frozen and people have stolen our land,” remarked Cicel Titus, a resident of Groot Aub, at the meeting attended mainly by elderly people. New Era understands that Khomas Governor Laura McLeod-Katjirua and Councillor of the Windhoek Rural Constituency Arie Fredericks were invited to the meeting but did not show up at the Katutura Community Hall, in the capital. This irked the residents, who expressed concerns mainly related to the development of the constituency. However, representatives of the Ministry of Health and Social Services, the Ministry of Land Reform as well as the City of Windhoek were present. Titus shared further that the development of Groot Aub started in 2000 but the Khomas Regional Council froze land development between 2003 and 2004. Since that period until today, “illegal land allocations” have been the norm with minimal regulations, Titus claimed. The residents, however, do not benefit from the allocation of this land, as there are too many land grab irregularities, Titus shared. For instance, a plot on which a church was built was sold for N$100 000, Titus reminisced. “If you look at Groot Aub today development is needed,” he said, adding, “Water is a concern because of the uncontrollable influx of people into Groot Aub. We feel disrespected by people flocking into Groot Aub. The way it was done is not fair.” He also said the boundaries of Groot Aub should be clearly demarcated, as there are now “settlements within settlements” at Groot Aub. Furthermore, Titus said schools at Groot Aub are not up to standard. “It is a concern if only six out of 86 learners are passing,” Titus said. In response to the matters related to land, Deputy Director in the Ministry of Land Reform Marvin Sisamu told the communities that arrangements would be made to address them regarding the concerns at their settlements. “It’s a pity that the governor and councillors were not here to listen to your concerns. Your concerns are very valid,” said Sisamu. Asked why he thinks the councillor did not show up at the meeting, Titus told New Era that Fredericks politicises everything. “He is not there for the community just for his own interests. He is not our leader. He is just there for himself,” said Titus. 2015-06-22Staff Report 2
