Court to decide on 'outdated' squatters law
NEWS IN SHORT
An application brought by social justice activist Dimbulukeni Nauyoma to have the Squatters Proclamation AG 21 of 1985 declared unconstitutional was heard by a full bench of the High Court in Windhoek on Monday.
Justices Boas Usiku, George Coleman and Collins Parker postponed their decision until February 15, 2023, at a quarter past three.
Nauyoma brought his application against the Attorney General and the Government of Namibia, following his arrest in 2019, after he had tried to stop officers who were demolishing the residence of a single mother of two in Okuryangava informal settlement. The eviction of the single mother was carried out according to the Squatters regulation, which many argue is outdated.
On behalf of Nauyoma, lawyer Kadhila Amoomo argued that the proclamation was established by the apartheid government to hinder access to land and housing in urban areas for non-white citizens. Specifically, he said the proclamation violates the constitution's articles 8, 10, 15 and 16. Previously, the proclamation also allowed evictions to be carried out without a court order.
- Augetto Graig
Justices Boas Usiku, George Coleman and Collins Parker postponed their decision until February 15, 2023, at a quarter past three.
Nauyoma brought his application against the Attorney General and the Government of Namibia, following his arrest in 2019, after he had tried to stop officers who were demolishing the residence of a single mother of two in Okuryangava informal settlement. The eviction of the single mother was carried out according to the Squatters regulation, which many argue is outdated.
On behalf of Nauyoma, lawyer Kadhila Amoomo argued that the proclamation was established by the apartheid government to hinder access to land and housing in urban areas for non-white citizens. Specifically, he said the proclamation violates the constitution's articles 8, 10, 15 and 16. Previously, the proclamation also allowed evictions to be carried out without a court order.
- Augetto Graig
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