Africa-Press – Namibia. Residents at Oranjemund are preparing to stage a protest in the coming weeks amid growing frustration over a worsening housing crisis at the southern town.
Eviction notices, soaring rental prices, and what community members describe as a lack of meaningful intervention have pushed the matter into the national spotlight, with a viral WhatsApp message rallying public attention.
Oranjemund’s management committee chairperson, Guame Stephanus, confirmed in an interview with Desert FM yesterday that the town is in the middle of a crisis, worsened by unaffordable housing and the looming evictions of residents occupying properties owned by companies like Namdeb.
“There is a housing crisis within Oranjemund, there’s no doubt about that. There’s also an issue of exorbitant rental prices and eviction notices being sent out by Namdeb to individuals living in their flats,” Stephanus said.
According to him, the town council has introduced a rent-to-buy model as part of its transformation agenda, aiming to promote home ownership and reduce dependence on renting.
Stephanus added that while 56 houses have already been constructed under this model, uptake from private stakeholders has been low.
While the council has urged companies to collaborate on affordable housing, Stephanus said these entities have largely resisted, prioritising profit through rentals instead. He stated that attempts to use part of the N$300 million generated from property sales to fund low-cost housing have not yielded results.
“We proposed that at least N$50 million be invested in low-cost housing so we can get rid of these congested areas… But what’s happening now is one room is being rented for N$3 000. People are taking advantage because there’s a housing crisis,” he said.
Stephanus also confirmed that the eviction notices are being issued by companies seeking to relocate their staff from nearby mining towns to Oranjemund. The town council, however, does not have the capacity to absorb those displaced, prompting further strain.
According to Stephanus, alternative solutions like engaging investors for plot-and-plan construction and working with the Shack Dwellers Federation are ongoing but moving slowly.
Stephanus emphasised that although 85 urban plots were allocated recently and 56 rent-to-buy homes are being filled, this barely scratches the surface of the crisis.
“We’ve told Namdeb that if they evict people, where will they go? Council can give plots, yes, but will people be able to build? That’s why we want to construct and let them rent to buy. We want to be the first town without shacks in Namibia – but we need stakeholders to come to the table,” he said.
Spokesperson for the group organising the protest, Wilhelmina Shilongo, spoke to The Namibian yesterday, saying the evicted individuals are long-time renters who have paid for their water, refuse and utility services through the town council.
“Some of these people have been living in this property for the past 10, 15, 20 years. They had a contract with Namdeb to rent the properties while working and staying at Oranjemund,” Shilongo said.
Shilongo said the broader problem lies in the town’s unpreparedness for the rapid urban growth that followed its transition from a closed mining settlement to an open town. She added that since opening up to the public, Oranjemund has seen a spike in demand for accommodation, pushing rental prices beyond what most residents can afford.
“They wanted a shack-free town, but they’re not actually keeping up with the high demand of accommodation that’s needed here,” Shilongo said.
The protesters are calling on the town council and national government to urgently intervene. Their demands include the creation of more affordable housing options, stronger regulation of rental prices, and the establishment of a rental board to oversee fair practices.
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