Sankwasa sends warning to Groot Aub land sellers

Urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa has warned residents at Groot Aub against illegal land sales, stressing it is a criminal offence and will be handled accordingly.

Addressing residents during a community meeting in Groot Aub last week, Sankwasa said no individual has the legal authority to sell state or communal land, stressing that land administration in Namibia is governed by law and not by individuals seeking to profit from public property.

"Is it true that there are individuals who are selling land to other individuals? I need to know their names because you can only sell what belongs to you. What is not yours, you cannot sell," the minister said.

He reminded residents that all land ultimately belongs to the State and is managed through legally designated custodians.

"If it is in an urban area, the custodian of that land is the local authority council. If it is in a communal area, the custodian is the traditional authority. No individual has that responsibility," he said.

"If the land does not belong to you and you sell it, you are committing a crime,” he added.

“You will have to account for how you managed to sell that land, how you obtained the land you are selling, under whose authority you acquired it and under which law you are acting," he warned.

He said Namibia's land administration system is clearly defined through legislation and leaves no room for private individuals to dispose of public land.

The minister underlined that land grabbing is also prohibited.

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