Groot Aub residents secure land rights
Residents of Groot Aub Extension 2 are a step closer to securing formal land tenure after the City of Windhoek officially launched the lease-signing process under the Groot Aub Land Tenure Programme. The community engagement marked the beginning of a process aimed at providing residents with greater security of tenure while laying the groundwork for improved access to municipal services and future homeownership.
As part of the programme, City officials will conduct door-to-door household visits to verify property boundaries, household information and service needs. The verification exercise will also identify properties requiring rezoning or realignment with the approved township layout.
Residents whose erven are aligned with the approved township layout will proceed with signing lease agreements. For those occupying undemarcated areas or properties that do not align with the approved layout, the City will first undertake the necessary planning, verification and alignment processes before issuing Land Occupation Certificates. These certificates will provide formal recognition of residents' occupancy while the land tenure process continues.
The City further assured residents that where relocation is required to align with the approved development plan, affected households will be accommodated accordingly. Speaking during the community engagement, councillor Demetreo Beukes urged residents to take advantage of the opportunity, saying participation in the programme would help secure a better future for their families and generations to come.
Beukes described the initiative as an important milestone towards securing land tenure for Groot Aub residents, noting that it would improve living conditions while creating a pathway towards eventual homeownership. He also clarified that lease payments are not payments towards the purchase of land, but are intended to fund the delivery, operation and maintenance of essential municipal services, including water, sanitation, refuse removal, roads and other public infrastructure.
According to the City, the Groot Aub Land Tenure Programme is about more than land ownership. It seeks to create opportunities, provide security for families, improve access to municipal services and lay the foundation for future generations to build and invest in their community.
The engagement forms part of the City of Windhoek's ongoing efforts to formalise land tenure in Groot Aub, improve access to municipal services and promote sustainable community development.
