Mix squatters want to buy plot

THE squatters at ‘Mix Camp’, 20 km north of Windhoek, are considering buying the land from its owners instead of packing up and leaving.

The lawyer defending the interests of the estimated 3 000 illegal residents on the private plot at Brakwater told The Namibian that his clients were looking at several options to avoid eviction. An eviction order was served on them towards the end of last year.Zeka Alberto works for the Legal Assistance Centre, which was approached by the community for help after the owner, Eluwa Lya Tenda Property, placed an advertisement in local newspapers through its lawyers PF Koep and Company.In the advert the residents were given notice to vacate the land by December 31 or face eviction.”We have not received final instructions as some of the community leaders are still in the North.However, we have already asked for certain documents from the Deeds Office.We want to see whether there was not another viable option for the owner,” Alberto said.He said the LAC was puzzled by the fact that the owners, Eluwa Lya Tenda Property, bought the land when they knew that around 3 000 people were living on it.”A politician should work in the interest of the people,” he said referring to Frans Kapofi, owner of Eluwa Lya Tenda Property.Kapofi is the Secretary to Cabinet.Alberto said one option being considered was to pay Kapofi the money back and continue staying there.The Namibian understands that the other side was growing increasingly impatient, as the squatters have failed to respond to the eviction order for over a month.However, Alberto denied that his clients had employed any delaying tactics, saying it had more to do with circumstances beyond their control.”For instance, one of the committee members died late last year and needs to be replaced,” he said.The majority of the residents work in the city and stay in Windhoek for the rest of the week, as it is too costly for them to commute on weekdays.In the notice placed in the newspapers, lawyers PF Koep and Company said their client reserved the right, “amongst others, to approach the High Court of Namibia or any other competent court to obtain the necessary order for your eviction and ejectment from the properties, together with such other additional or ancillary relief that might be necessary or appropriate”.The informal settlement started in the 1980s when the former plot owner, the late Heiner Mix, allowed some workers to settle on his property.Since his death in 1999, the settlement has mushroomed in the absence of a landlord.The residents claim that they had an agreement with Mix to stay on the 50-hectare plot.An eviction order was served on them towards the end of last year.Zeka Alberto works for the Legal Assistance Centre, which was approached by the community for help after the owner, Eluwa Lya Tenda Property, placed an advertisement in local newspapers through its lawyers PF Koep and Company.In the advert the residents were given notice to vacate the land by December 31 or face eviction.”We have not received final instructions as some of the community leaders are still in the North.However, we have already asked for certain documents from the Deeds Office.We want to see whether there was not another viable option for the owner,” Alberto said.He said the LAC was puzzled by the fact that the owners, Eluwa Lya Tenda Property, bought the land when they knew that around 3 000 people were living on it.”A politician should work in the interest of the people,” he said referring to Frans Kapofi, owner of Eluwa Lya Tenda Property.Kapofi is the Secretary to Cabinet.Alberto said one option being considered was to pay Kapofi the money back and continue staying there.The Namibian understands that the other side was growing increasingly impatient, as the squatters have failed to respond to the eviction order for over a month.However, Alberto denied that his clients had employed any delaying tactics, saying it had more to do with circumstances beyond their control.”For instance, one of the committee members died late last year and needs to be replaced,” he said.The majority of the residents work in the city and stay in Windhoek for the rest of the week, as it is too costly for them to commute on weekdays.In the notice placed in the newspapers, lawyers PF Koep and Company said their client reserved the right, “amongst others, to approach the High Court of Namibia or any other competent court to obtain the necessary order for your eviction and ejectment from the properties, together with such other additional or ancillary relief that might be necessary or appropriate”.The informal settlement started in the 1980s when the former plot owner, the late Heiner Mix, allowed some workers to settle on his property.Since his death in 1999, the settlement has mushroomed in the absence of a landlord.The residents claim that they had an agreement with Mix to stay on the 50-hectare plot.