Grootfontein owed N$1m by defaulting farm tenants

KENYA KAMBOWE RUNDU The Grootfontein municipality is owed over N$1 million by five tenants who have defaulted on the nominal rent they are meant to pay for townlands.This was revealed by Grootfontein CEO Kisco Sinvula, who told Namibian Sun that the council will seek legal opinion on how to collect the due funds.“I can tell you it’s a lot money. It’s in the region of N$1 million,” Sinvula said.“We’ve already issued letters of demand and if they do not pay, obviously we will consult our legal advisers to issue the notice.”In May, Namibian Sun exposed that the Grootfontein municipality is scrambling to collect rent from tenants who lease townlands, with some paying as little as N$820 monthly for a 600-hectare farm.The farms - commonly referred to as camps - are situated in the country’s breadbasket known as the Maize Triangle.The Grootfontein council owns four farms measuring a combined 2 451 hectares, which it leases to third parties.The local authority also leases part of Townlands 754, which measures approximately 600 hectares.The lease agreements are valid for a year, with the option of renewal.The lease contract, seen by Namibian Sun, states that the land may be used only for grazing.The rent is payable monthly and increases by 10% a year.One of the farms, Camp 4, measuring 500 hectares, is currently vacant, while the other three camps are leased to Emilia Hauwanga, Kamehozu Kamehozu and Okanakasewa/Kaap Agri.Kamehozu is the son of the late Otjozondjupa regional governor Raapama Kamehozu.Townlands 754 is leased to Otto Kaura for N$2 909 a month.Hauwanga pays N$820.27 for Camp 1, which measures 600 hectares.Kamehozu pays N$12 219 for Camp 2, which measures 1 200 hectares, while the Okanakasewa/Kaap Agri venture pays N$22 041.26 for the 151-hectare Camp 3.A certain S Williams pays N$2 530 for Camp 4, which measures 500 hectares.CorruptionInformation on the farm leases comes at a time when the municipality has been accused of maladministration and corruption.A forensic report - which is yet to be made public - on the affairs of the town has revealed that questionable land sales and cheap leases of municipal-owned farmland are some of the reasons the town is broke.Namibian Sun has been informed that the audit - conducted by the urban and rural development ministry - unveiled how resources were misused for self-gratification by politicians and municipal staff.Revoke landSinvula also told Namibian Sun that the council will repossess land bought by residents not making the agreed payments.“There are people who procured land from the council and did not honour their obligations and they are just reminded that the land can be forfeited to the council,” he said.kenya@namibiansun.com

Grootfontein owed N$1m by defaulting farm tenants

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Namibian Sun 2025-02-19

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Grootfontein owed N$1m by defaulting farm tenants

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Namibian Sun 2025-02-19

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