Swakop's A-frames face demolition
Swakopmund’s once iconic municipal rest camp, the highlight of a holiday season for many Namibians and visitors to the popular holiday town, is now the centre of a major debate.With the renovation and repair bill already running at N$90 million, the municipality is weighing whether to keep, sell or redevelop the 200 units.
The ageing units have long been out of step with modern safety and tourism standards.
The rest camp, which offered affordable coastal holiday accommodation to many Namibian families and visitors, has fallen into such disrepair that it now poses a structural and operational risk.
A full engineering report presented to the council in March identified serious problems with infrastructure, water damage and outdated electrical systems.
“The facilities are old, dilapidated and from another era,” engineering and planning services general manager Clarence McClune wrote in the report.
Comparisons
“This [repair] can only be done if the cost of renovation is compared to potential (realistic) revenue projections,” he said.
The internal report, compiled in December 2024 at the request of the council, divided the rest camp into seven zones and assessed the structural integrity of each unit. The findings show extensive deterioration. In some cases, it is proposed that the Spitzkoppe rondavels (the popular double-storey A-frame houses) be demolished.
The rondavels, once known for their timber frame and attic rooms, are now characterised by cracked walls, sagging foundations and water leaks.
In addition to structural problems, there are also immediate fire and public health risks.
“All have external power distribution boards without any covering. This is very concerning and can lead to fires,” McClune warned.
Other units have asbestos roofing sheets that need to be removed by specialist contractors. The total cost to restore and renovate the rest camp to a functioning condition is estimated at around N$90 million.
The financial viability of maintaining the rest camp is also being questioned.
In a parallel review, the Department of Economic Development Services found that more than half of the camp’s budget in 2022-23 was spent on staff salaries, with only 9% used for infrastructure maintenance.
Insufficient budget
“The budget is insufficient and does not adequately support the council’s efforts to improve the rest camp,” the report said.
Three main options were put forward for consideration, namely the sale of the entire rest camp to a private operator; the partial sale of units that are not functioning as desired; or a public-private partnership (PPP) similar to that of Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR)’s Daan Viljoen agreement. The PPP model, supported by national funding structures, provides for the rehabilitation, operation and later transfer back to the council.
However, during a special management committee meeting in May, councillors proposed additional alternatives. These included repurposing the facilities as student housing or leasing the units rather than selling them.
The committee ultimately agreed that the council would retain the municipal rest camp as an asset while prohibiting any sale or transfer to third parties. Upgrading the units in phases was also proposed, with the Fish and Welwitschia units coming first. Despite the above resolution, the engineering department warned against minor interventions.
“A phased approach is not recommended. The result is unlikely to be much different from the current state,” McClune said.
“The focus should be on large-scale changes that attract more guests all year round.” - [email protected]