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Friday, May 16, 2008 - Web posted at 9:14:05 GMT Brakwater people live in fear of Mix Camp CHRISTOF MALETSKYPLOT owners and their families in the vicinity of Mix Camp, 20 km north of Windhoek, live in fear as gunshots terrorise them almost on a weekly basis. |
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"The situation is now getting beyond what is bearable. I have a young daughter who was traumatised by this and I phoned and reported it to the City Police. I do not know if they sent anyone out to investigate. The bottom line is this, this situation needs to be addressed immediately," said Philip du Plessis, one of the plot owners in the Mix Camp area. Last November shots were also fired over his roof from Mix Camp. "I must believe that this is a case of intimidation. By the way, I do not carry a firearm so I will not be able to defend myself against anybody should it come to that," Du Plessis said. Similar concerns were raised by other residents living in the area. The majority said they lived in fear and were traumatised. "I have a small family and it is really scary to be all by yourself. You start to fear for your life and those of your family," said another plot owner. "You lie awake at night listening to every little noise. We too are traumatised by this. This is really not what I imagined and wanted from my stay in Brakwater. When we bought the place, I thought that I was buying the peace and quiet of being out of Windhoek." They have formed the Emmarentia-Brakwater Residents' Committee but claim that they do not get co-operation from the City of Windhoek in stopping crime and lawlessness. They claim widespread lawlessness such as stabbings, assaults and illegal trading, illegal use of firearms, illegal shebeens, trespassing, littering, pollution, threats from Mix residents, theft and burglaries in the area and overgrazing on their property. Du Plessis said the City Police have tried to address the issue but needed support from the City of Windhoek. City Police Chief Abraham Kanime will be meeting the landowners today to discuss their problems. The residents want the Mix Camp community of around 3 000 moved somewhere else because they occupy the land illegally. Alternatively, they want the Police to raid the camp for illegal firearms. It is alleged that even some members of the Police's Special Field Force live at Mix illegally. "The Police living in Mix need to either leave (they are squatting illegally) or do their job by bringing the perpetrators to book," said Du Plessis. "The SFF members should be applying the law, not breaking it by squatting illegally." In a letter to the City of Windhoek, the residents said they would no longer allow themselves to be subjected to anarchy and have reached a "breaking point" where they can no longer be expected to accept the apathy any longer. "Do not wait and see. Tragedy is going to strike us sooner or later. Let it be on the city fathers' heads when it does happen," the letter said. Last year, the High Court declared that the residents of Mix Camp were illegal squatters and ordered them to vacate the land. However, the residents instead offered to buy the 50-hectare plot from Eluwa Lya Tenda Property of Frans Kapofi. Some of the residents had been allowed by previous plot owner Heiner Mix to live on the property since 1980 in return for a nominal rent. Mix died in 1999 and the plot was then sold to Eluwa Lya Tenda Property. The owners of Eluwa Lya Tenda Property informed the residents that any rent agreement was terminable by "reasonable notice" and that the month and a half they were given last year to pack up was enough. Mix has become a political hot potato, with the Swapo Party Youth League arguing that the people should be resettled on the plot instead of being evicted. The SPYL has approached the Ministry of Local Government and the City of Windhoek to resolve the issue. The residents say they "just want peace". |
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PO Box 20783 - Windhoek - 42 John Meinert Street Tel: +264 (61) 279600 - Fax: +264 (61) 279602
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