ACC investigates Hoperise College
Hochlandpark residents are up in arms over a college in the residential area that continues to operate despite countless objections to the Windhoek municipality and its City Police.
The alleged lack of action by the Windhoek municipality and the City Police has propelled frustrated residents at Hochlandpark to approach the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to investigate the operations of Hoperise College in the residential area.
The municipality's department of urban planning and property management issued a “cease operation” notice to the college in March last year after it was found to have no permit. The college has, however, continued to operate undisturbed despite numerous complaints by the frustrated residents.
After a visit to the regional director of education this week, residents were surprised to see that the municipality's department of economic development and environment had in fact issued a certificate allowing Hoperise to operate.
The certificate was issued on the same day, on 30 March, that the municipality's planning department had given Hoperise 28 days to cease its operations.
The residents say this made them suspect corruption, hence the complaint lodged with the ACC.
Residents of Barbet and Osprey streets say they have repeatedly complained about a huge increase in traffic, noise emanating from the college, the infringement on their privacy and littering.
They say they also asked the municipality about real status of Hoperise College. The residents say they tried to get a copy of the “cease operation” notice served by the municipality but only managed to get a copy of the 28-day notice served on the college. Some of the residents in September filed formal charges of fraud and falsification with the Namibian Police against the director of Hoperise, Wellington Vambe, and Rosa Nandago. They claimed the two had fraudulently deceived them into signing a consent form by misrepresenting the college as an examination centre. To the contrary, it offers tuition and has between 60 and 80 students on the property at any given time, the residents charge.
Vambe last year said the college had decided to “add value” to the examination centre by “coaching” students. He also said the college had taken steps to minimise the increased traffic and concerns about parking.
CATHERINE SASMAN
The municipality's department of urban planning and property management issued a “cease operation” notice to the college in March last year after it was found to have no permit. The college has, however, continued to operate undisturbed despite numerous complaints by the frustrated residents.
After a visit to the regional director of education this week, residents were surprised to see that the municipality's department of economic development and environment had in fact issued a certificate allowing Hoperise to operate.
The certificate was issued on the same day, on 30 March, that the municipality's planning department had given Hoperise 28 days to cease its operations.
The residents say this made them suspect corruption, hence the complaint lodged with the ACC.
Residents of Barbet and Osprey streets say they have repeatedly complained about a huge increase in traffic, noise emanating from the college, the infringement on their privacy and littering.
They say they also asked the municipality about real status of Hoperise College. The residents say they tried to get a copy of the “cease operation” notice served by the municipality but only managed to get a copy of the 28-day notice served on the college. Some of the residents in September filed formal charges of fraud and falsification with the Namibian Police against the director of Hoperise, Wellington Vambe, and Rosa Nandago. They claimed the two had fraudulently deceived them into signing a consent form by misrepresenting the college as an examination centre. To the contrary, it offers tuition and has between 60 and 80 students on the property at any given time, the residents charge.
Vambe last year said the college had decided to “add value” to the examination centre by “coaching” students. He also said the college had taken steps to minimise the increased traffic and concerns about parking.
CATHERINE SASMAN
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