Losing It All

I DON’T know if the Namibian authorities have seen the legal notices published on a daily basis in our local papers but at the rate the micro-lending companies and other lending institutions are taking people to the cleaners and selling their possessions like beds, tables and chairs to recover outstanding amounts is not something to be taken lightly anymore.

How must these people survive after losing all their basic necessities? Imagine a single mother with four or five children driven to these loan companies out of sheer desperation in the first place and then losing everything else in the process when she cannot repay at the exorbitant interest rates. As far as I know, the law in South Africa says that when you take someone to court and their possessions are then sold in execution; items that are necessities for living cannot be taken.Such items would include beds, bedding, tables and chairs, a fridge (especially in our climate) and everything else that would constitute basic living necessities.Should we not be going the same route? Our Justice Ministry should look into this state of affairs as a matter of urgency because when destitute people are punished even more, that is when they act desperately.Is this maybe not why our suicide rate is so high in the country?Concerned Via e-mailAs far as I know, the law in South Africa says that when you take someone to court and their possessions are then sold in execution; items that are necessities for living cannot be taken.Such items would include beds, bedding, tables and chairs, a fridge (especially in our climate) and everything else that would constitute basic living necessities.Should we not be going the same route? Our Justice Ministry should look into this state of affairs as a matter of urgency because when destitute people are punished even more, that is when they act desperately.Is this maybe not why our suicide rate is so high in the country? Concerned Via e-mail