Vergenoeg residents to petition PM
Former mayor disputes residents’ version
Okahandja Concerned Group chairperson Setty Gariseb said the ministry is wasting their time and failing to take responsibility.
The residents of the Vergenoeg and Oshetu I and II informal settlements intend to petition Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila over the alleged failure of the Okahandja municipality and urban and rural development ministry to address their concerns.
The community had demarcated erven at the Garden Town and dug trenches for water infrastructure to be put in place owing to what Okahandja Concerned Group chairperson Setty Gariseb said was the town council’s responsibility.
The community members had demanded the installation of water infrastructure, with Gariseb saying community members did not have ablution facilities.
Failure
"We feel that the ministry is busy wasting our time and they are not taking responsibility. We will take the next step and petition the prime minister as per our constitutional right," he said.
According to Gariseb, the residents of the informal settlements will group together in a united front when they meet the prime minister later this month.
"They have failed us and if they were serious, something could have been done," he said.
Different version
However, former Okahandja mayor and town council member Natasha Brinkmann disputed Gariseb’s version of events, saying he constantly challenged council decisions that were meant to improve the lives of the residents of the informal settlements.
"If we come up with projects, he is against it. I was the one who initiated this demarcation project during my time in office. We are busy with the demarcation project, yet he is against it," she said.
Brinkmann also claimed that she played a role in securing potable water for the community of Vergenoeg.
"I am the one who brought water to Vergenoeg," she said.
The group is set to hand over a petition to Kuugongelwa-Amadhila on 22 October, Gariseb said.
The community had demarcated erven at the Garden Town and dug trenches for water infrastructure to be put in place owing to what Okahandja Concerned Group chairperson Setty Gariseb said was the town council’s responsibility.
The community members had demanded the installation of water infrastructure, with Gariseb saying community members did not have ablution facilities.
Failure
"We feel that the ministry is busy wasting our time and they are not taking responsibility. We will take the next step and petition the prime minister as per our constitutional right," he said.
According to Gariseb, the residents of the informal settlements will group together in a united front when they meet the prime minister later this month.
"They have failed us and if they were serious, something could have been done," he said.
Different version
However, former Okahandja mayor and town council member Natasha Brinkmann disputed Gariseb’s version of events, saying he constantly challenged council decisions that were meant to improve the lives of the residents of the informal settlements.
"If we come up with projects, he is against it. I was the one who initiated this demarcation project during my time in office. We are busy with the demarcation project, yet he is against it," she said.
Brinkmann also claimed that she played a role in securing potable water for the community of Vergenoeg.
"I am the one who brought water to Vergenoeg," she said.
The group is set to hand over a petition to Kuugongelwa-Amadhila on 22 October, Gariseb said.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article