Groot-Aub residents demand answers after tense meeting with Minister Sankwasa

Residents of Groot-Aub Settlement say they remain dissatisfied after a meeting with Minister of Urban and Rural Development James Sankwasa, citing concerns over land ownership, development, basic services and the future administration of the settlement.

Community activist Cicel Titus, who has lived in Groot-Aub since 1977, says residents had hoped the meeting would provide clarity on long-standing challenges affecting the community.

Titus says around 500 residents attended the engagement and waited several hours before the minister arrived, leaving limited time to discuss their concerns.

“We were about 400, almost 500 people at this meeting and these people were waiting, imagine from nine o’clock in the morning until five o’clock,” Titus said.

He says the community wanted the minister to address issues outlined in a letter submitted earlier this year, including water supply, electricity, land administration and Groot-Aub’s future status.

“The issues with water, issues with electricity, issues with the administration of Groot-Aub, to declare Groot-Aub as a village council or whatever it could be, for the boundaries to be reversed from where it is, is what we were supposed to address,” Titus said.

Titus says residents remain opposed to Groot-Aub falling under the City of Windhoek and believe local governance would allow the community to address its challenges more effectively.

“If Groot-Aub can get its own authority like a village council, then we can deal with our matters locally,” he said.

He also raised concerns about uncertainty surrounding land ownership and development, saying residents need clarity on how land linked to the community was transferred and allocated.

Titus says the community is not against development but wants decisions to be made through proper consultation.

“Our history is affecting us. The governance is affecting us,” he said.

He added that residents will continue engaging government and hope for further discussions, including a possible meeting with President.

“We are not happy with the outcome of the meeting. We will see our way forward as a community,” Titus said.

Minister Sankwasa indicated that he would return to address the community again, but residents say they want more detailed engagement and solutions to their concerns.

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