VP engages san communities
Vice President Lucia Witbooi visited Skoonheid in the Okorukambe Constituency on last week Thursday, where she met with Chief Frederick Langman and resettled San families living on a local farm. The visit formed part of her ongoing mission to engage with Indigenous communities, assess their livelihoods, and better understand their challenges and lived experiences.Community members raised several pressing concerns, including high school drop-out rates, lack of land rights and limited opportunities for young people. These issues, they said, continue to trap many families in cycles of poverty and uncertainty about the future.
Earlier that week, Witbooi attended the groundbreaking ceremony for forty houses to be constructed by N/aa’nkusê for the San community at Epukiro Post 3. She later met with residents in Epukiro, where she listened to their concerns and encouraged open dialogue on practical solutions to improve living conditions and access to services.
Speaking on behalf of the San community, Senior Traditional Counsellor of the #Kaon//ae Traditional Authority, Frans Chapman, urged community members to use government grants responsibly and in ways that would meaningfully improve their livelihoods. He emphasised the importance of financial responsibility in building sustainable households and supporting education for children.
In Otjinene, the Vice President again engaged the San community to hear about ongoing challenges. Residents highlighted issues such as project misappropriation, unemployment among graduates, and learner payment requirements, which they say continue to limit access to education and economic opportunities.
Adding to these concerns, Listo Kamberipa, a teacher at Usiel Ndjavera Primary School, reported alarmingly high school drop-out rates among San learners. He noted that many pupils abscond without valid reasons, calling for stronger community support and targeted interventions to keep children in school.
Vice President Witbooi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working with communities and traditional leaders to address these challenges through inclusive development and sustained engagement.
