NSFAF wants to earn cash from N$178m headquarters
Barely a year after the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) moved its operations to its new headquarters in the Eros suburb of Windhoek, the fund intends to use parts of the building for other purposes in order to generate income.
NSFAF has sent out a notice to announce its application to the Windhoek municipality for consent to use the building also as a multi-purpose hall and cafeteria for public functions, gatherings and events.
A gymnasium will also be open to the public, as well as a cafeteria and a day-care centre for the fund's employees and children from other areas. The erf is 15 487 square metres and is currently zoned as 'institutional', for a business building for office purposes.
The hall, gymnasium and other facilities form part of the main building.
NSFAF said it wants to use the massive building to its maximum capacity. Objections to the proposed uses of the building can be done in writing to the Windhoek municipality and NSFAF.
Controversial building project
Before moving into the new building, the NSFAF head office operated from a building in the central business district of the capital it rented from the United Africa Group.
The construction of the new head office was shrouded in controversy right from the get-go, not only for its location outside of the CBD that is difficult to access by young students – the main target group of NSFAF – but also because of the lack of proper tendering procedures followed in the appointment of the construction company.
The more than N$178 million contract was awarded to China Jiangxi International that teamed up with Namibian outfit Homefin Properties.
At the time, it was alleged that the tender was advertised over a two-day period without any reference to NSFAF in the advert.
There were also allegations that NSFAF had paid for three different IT surveillance systems doing the same thing over a two-year period.
The Tender Bulletin in late 2016 reported that while the project was launched and construction had started, it was not listed on the national development budget. It also reported not being aware of a public tender having gone out.
And now, it seems, the concrete-laden building is too big for NSFAF's core operations.
NSFAF's chief of human capital and corporate affairs, Olavi Hamwele, said the intention with the application to the municipality was to generate income, and shall be advertised on a competitive basis once the City's requirements are fulfilled.
Party admonished
The alternative use of the NSFAF building has allegedly already raised the hackles of Eros residents when a party held on the premises on the evening of Saturday, 22 February reportedly turned rowdy.
It is alleged that the City Police was called in to stop the party at around 01:00 the following morning. Hamwele said NSFAF has not received word of any such incident, adding that security personnel are deployed around-the-clock at the premises.
Members of the public pointed out that the party was held there illegally since NSFAF currently only has permission to use the premises for office purposes.
Catherine Sasman
NSFAF has sent out a notice to announce its application to the Windhoek municipality for consent to use the building also as a multi-purpose hall and cafeteria for public functions, gatherings and events.
A gymnasium will also be open to the public, as well as a cafeteria and a day-care centre for the fund's employees and children from other areas. The erf is 15 487 square metres and is currently zoned as 'institutional', for a business building for office purposes.
The hall, gymnasium and other facilities form part of the main building.
NSFAF said it wants to use the massive building to its maximum capacity. Objections to the proposed uses of the building can be done in writing to the Windhoek municipality and NSFAF.
Controversial building project
Before moving into the new building, the NSFAF head office operated from a building in the central business district of the capital it rented from the United Africa Group.
The construction of the new head office was shrouded in controversy right from the get-go, not only for its location outside of the CBD that is difficult to access by young students – the main target group of NSFAF – but also because of the lack of proper tendering procedures followed in the appointment of the construction company.
The more than N$178 million contract was awarded to China Jiangxi International that teamed up with Namibian outfit Homefin Properties.
At the time, it was alleged that the tender was advertised over a two-day period without any reference to NSFAF in the advert.
There were also allegations that NSFAF had paid for three different IT surveillance systems doing the same thing over a two-year period.
The Tender Bulletin in late 2016 reported that while the project was launched and construction had started, it was not listed on the national development budget. It also reported not being aware of a public tender having gone out.
And now, it seems, the concrete-laden building is too big for NSFAF's core operations.
NSFAF's chief of human capital and corporate affairs, Olavi Hamwele, said the intention with the application to the municipality was to generate income, and shall be advertised on a competitive basis once the City's requirements are fulfilled.
Party admonished
The alternative use of the NSFAF building has allegedly already raised the hackles of Eros residents when a party held on the premises on the evening of Saturday, 22 February reportedly turned rowdy.
It is alleged that the City Police was called in to stop the party at around 01:00 the following morning. Hamwele said NSFAF has not received word of any such incident, adding that security personnel are deployed around-the-clock at the premises.
Members of the public pointed out that the party was held there illegally since NSFAF currently only has permission to use the premises for office purposes.
Catherine Sasman
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