Grootfontein land sales in shambles
Kenya Kambowe
RUNDU
Amongst the findings of a forensic report into the affairs of the Grootfontein municipality, it was uncovered that the local authority has been run without a land policy. This led to council gazetting land tariffs irrespective of whether it is for low-income or prime land.
The municipality was also found to have been soft on developers when it comes to payments for land, as one particular company, which was allocated land in May 2010, only made a payment in 2019, while the council took less than a month to revoke land from others who could not fulfil their financial obligations.
Yesterday, Namibian Sun reported how Grootfontein municipality politicians, staff members and their cronies have been helping themselves to land and lucrative tenders while the municipality fell apart.
The urban and rural development ministry carried out an investigation into alleged maladministration and irregularities at the municipality from 11 to 29 March 2019.
Without a land policy in place, the forensic report also found that Grootfontein municipality does not determine land price on a cost-recovery basis.
“Unserviced land is sold by the council without administrative staff management and management committee recommendations,” the report read, adding that “councillors determine purchase prices for virgin land to developers”.
Hold them accountable
Meanwhile, action taken by the line ministry’s assessment team includes a draft land policy, which was forwarded to the council through former acting CEO, Arnold Ameb, for adoption and implementation.
The team also developed a standard land application form.
The council was advised to act on the recommendations of the management committee before resolving to sell land, and that only the minister has the power to overrule objections lodged on the sale of land.
The council was also advised to follow Section 30(1)(t) of the Local Authority Act, Act No. 23 of 1992) as amended to wait for ministerial approval before land is register in the Deeds office.
The council was further advised not to accept any payments from individuals or companies with whom conditions of sale had lapsed.
It was further recommended that the council and Ameb be held accountable for selling land on non-cost recovery basis.
[email protected]
RUNDU
Amongst the findings of a forensic report into the affairs of the Grootfontein municipality, it was uncovered that the local authority has been run without a land policy. This led to council gazetting land tariffs irrespective of whether it is for low-income or prime land.
The municipality was also found to have been soft on developers when it comes to payments for land, as one particular company, which was allocated land in May 2010, only made a payment in 2019, while the council took less than a month to revoke land from others who could not fulfil their financial obligations.
Yesterday, Namibian Sun reported how Grootfontein municipality politicians, staff members and their cronies have been helping themselves to land and lucrative tenders while the municipality fell apart.
The urban and rural development ministry carried out an investigation into alleged maladministration and irregularities at the municipality from 11 to 29 March 2019.
Without a land policy in place, the forensic report also found that Grootfontein municipality does not determine land price on a cost-recovery basis.
“Unserviced land is sold by the council without administrative staff management and management committee recommendations,” the report read, adding that “councillors determine purchase prices for virgin land to developers”.
Hold them accountable
Meanwhile, action taken by the line ministry’s assessment team includes a draft land policy, which was forwarded to the council through former acting CEO, Arnold Ameb, for adoption and implementation.
The team also developed a standard land application form.
The council was advised to act on the recommendations of the management committee before resolving to sell land, and that only the minister has the power to overrule objections lodged on the sale of land.
The council was also advised to follow Section 30(1)(t) of the Local Authority Act, Act No. 23 of 1992) as amended to wait for ministerial approval before land is register in the Deeds office.
The council was further advised not to accept any payments from individuals or companies with whom conditions of sale had lapsed.
It was further recommended that the council and Ameb be held accountable for selling land on non-cost recovery basis.
[email protected]
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article