Works denies selling govt flats
Works denies selling govt flats

Works denies selling govt flats

The government wants to develop an integrated framework for outsourcing the maintenance and management of its flats.
Catherine Sasman
The Ministry of Works and Transport says it is not selling any government flats, as it does not have the mandate to do so.

An SMS that appeared in the media earlier this month alleged that the ministry was selling all flats under its management to private companies.

Not so, said the ministry, adding that it was merely soliciting proposals from “experienced and professional companies” dealing with property management to conduct an assessment of the government flats and to develop an integrated framework or guidelines on how these flats across the country should be outsourced, maintained and managed.

It expects such companies to assess the current status of these flats and develop an accurate housing database, develop guidelines and recommendations on how outsourcing of the flats can be done, and to propose public-private-partnership arrangements for the maintenance of the flats, as well as developing tender specifications for the outsourcing of these flats.

A cabinet decision to have the rental of these flats outsourced was already taken in 2010, but has seemingly not been implemented yet.

Many of these flats and other government housing, occupied by government employees and family members, have fallen into disrepair with maintenance and cleaning services seemingly not being done.

The ministry, in a press statement issued yesterday, acknowledged that its tenants “are not contributing” towards the actual operational and maintenance costs and only pay a minimal percentage of their gross monthly salaries for rent.

Those living in one-bedroom or bachelor's flats pay a measly 4% of their gross monthly salary for rent. For a two- to three-bedroom flat, tenants only pay 6% of their salaries and for four-bedroom or larger flats or houses they pay only 8%.

Despite this, the ministry said many of its tenants either do not pay the applicable percentage rent or do not pay rent at all. There are also many who are illegally squatting in these government buildings and many “legal” tenants sub-let rooms or entire apartments to third parties or conduct commercial businesses or other illegal activities from these government properties.

The ministry also acknowledged being in arrears with its payment of municipal services to the Windhoek municipality and other local authorities.

The ministry said where government flats or developments are equipped with water and/or electricity meters, the tenants pay the actual costs of consumption.

Most of the government complexes, however, are only equipped with one bulk meter, and the works ministry foots the bill for the water and electricity consumption and also pays the rates and taxes, as well as all other related costs such as for refuse removal.

CATHERINE SASMAN

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Namibian Sun 2024-03-28

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Katima Mulilo: 19° | 37° Rundu: 17° | 33° Eenhana: 18° | 33° Oshakati: 20° | 31° Ruacana: 19° | 33° Tsumeb: 17° | 29° Otjiwarongo: 16° | 28° Omaruru: 18° | 31° Windhoek: 17° | 28° Gobabis: 17° | 28° Henties Bay: 16° | 19° Wind speed: 24km/h, Wind direction: S, Low tide: 10:54, High tide: 04:57, Low Tide: 22:58, High tide: 17:16 Swakopmund: 15° | 17° Wind speed: 29km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 10:52, High tide: 04:55, Low Tide: 22:56, High tide: 17:14 Walvis Bay: 16° | 22° Wind speed: 33km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 10:52, High tide: 04:54, Low Tide: 22:56, High tide: 17:13 Rehoboth: 18° | 29° Mariental: 22° | 32° Keetmanshoop: 21° | 34° Aranos: 21° | 31° Lüderitz: 15° | 29° Ariamsvlei: 23° | 34° Oranjemund: 15° | 21° Luanda: 27° | 30° Gaborone: 20° | 32° Lubumbashi: 17° | 24° Mbabane: 15° | 23° Maseru: 12° | 28° Antananarivo: 16° | 27° Lilongwe: 17° | 29° Maputo: 20° | 28° Windhoek: 17° | 28° Cape Town: 17° | 23° Durban: 21° | 25° Johannesburg: 18° | 28° Dar es Salaam: 26° | 32° Lusaka: 18° | 30° Harare: 15° | 31° Currency: GBP to NAD 23.84 | EUR to NAD 20.42 | CNY to NAD 2.62 | USD to NAD 18.94 | DZD to NAD 0.14 | AOA to NAD 0.02 | BWP to NAD 1.33 | EGP to NAD 0.39 | KES to NAD 0.14 | NGN to NAD 0.01 | ZMW to NAD 0.74 | ZWL to NAD 0.04 | BRL to NAD 3.8 | RUB to NAD 0.2 | INR to NAD 0.23 | USD to DZD 134.33 | USD to AOA 832.63 | USD to BWP 13.71 | USD to EGP 47.35 | USD to KES 130.98 | USD to NGN 1415.13 | USD to ZAR 18.94 | USD to ZMW 25.01 | USD to ZWL 321 | Stock Exchange: JSE All Share Index 74536 Up +0.85% | Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) Overall Index 1528.69 Up +0.84% | Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) MASI 12986.94 Up +0.04% | Egyptian Exchange (EGX) 30 Index 27559.35 Down -2.36% | Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) DCI Same 0 | NSX: MTC 7.75 SAME | Anirep 8.99 SAME | Capricorn Investment group 17.34 SAME | FirstRand Namibia Ltd 49 DOWN 0.50% | Letshego Holdings (Namibia) Ltd 4.1 UP 2.50% | Namibia Asset Management Ltd 0.7 SAME | Namibia Breweries Ltd 31.49 UP 0.03% | Nictus Holdings - 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Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 219.03/OZ UP +1.29% | Copper US$ 3.99/lb UP +0.06% | Zinc US$ 2 451.00/T UP 0.08% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 87.59/BBP UP +1.39% | Platinum US$ 907.28/OZ UP +1.39%