Ninety people allegedly occupying GRN hostel illegally
Told to vacate hostel as far back as 2021
About 90 people are allegedly illegally living in a government-owned hostel at Windhoek Technical High School, despite not being authorised to live there.
Most of the occupants have reportedly ignored eviction notices issued as far back as 2021, citing personal and socio-economic difficulties as reasons for refusing to vacate the premises. This is according to a source who spoke to Network Media Hub on condition of anonymity.
Documents seen by NMH confirm that formal eviction notices have been issued since 2021 by the Khomas regional director of education, Paulus Nghikembua.
Nevertheless, the directives have reportedly been widely ignored. Some individuals who previously resigned from their posts at the school are also said to still be residing at the hostel without authorisation, the source alleged.
When contacted for comment, a member of the school board, speaking on condition of anonymity, declined to discuss the matter and referred all inquiries to the Khomas regional inspector of education.
Extended family members
A source close to the matter told NMH that fewer than 16 of the current residents are allegedly government employees – the only group officially permitted to stay in the facility.
The rest reportedly include unemployed individuals, extended family members, grandchildren, younger siblings and even entire families, none of whom contribute to rent or service fees, the source alleged.
“These people, amongst others, are not even paying anything. They were told to vacate the hostel as far back as 2021, and they ignored everything,” the source claimed.
The prolonged unauthorised occupation is reportedly placing a significant financial and administrative burden on the government.
Overcrowding has become the norm, the source added, and the lack of rental income is making it difficult to maintain the facility.
As a result, concerns are mounting about the sustainability of the hostel and the broader integrity of government accommodation systems when enforcement mechanisms fail to function.