Civil servants given June deadline to buy or vacate state flats

Civil servants living in government flats have until the end of June to either buy the properties they occupy or move out, works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi said last week.

After this deadline, tenants who have not taken up the offer will see the property made available to other civil servants willing to purchase it.

If no civil servant opts to buy, the minister said, the property will be put on the open market.

“What is given to them is their choice. They either take up the offer and buy these properties … or they choose not to,” Nekundi said.

A small number have already accepted, but most have declined, he added.

The minister expressed concern over the continued unlawful occupation of state accommodation by non-civil servants, unauthorised government employees, subletters and retired public servants.

Nekundi told lawmakers that the condition of government housing has reached a point where “99.99%” of the properties are poorly maintained and in a state “where nobody wants to live”, reflecting a failure by beneficiaries to look after state facilities.

He stressed that occupying these homes is a "privilege", not a right.

The minister further announced revised penalty fees for illegal occupants, which came into effect on 1 January.

Monthly charges for one-bedroom units have increased from N$1 500 to N$4 500, while two- and three-bedroom units now attract fees of up to N$10 500, both subject to 20% monthly interest.

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