No bank at Kombat

RESIDENTS of Kombat, the mining settlement situated about halfway between Otavi and Grootfontein, are frustrated with the absence of any banking services in their area.

The settlement, which does not have a bank branch, also lost its only automated teller machine (ATM) in December when Standard Bank decided to shut down its ATM at short notice. The result is that people now have to travel to Grootfontein or Otavi to get their salaries and wages, and neither they nor the small business community are happy about this.While residents The Namibian spoke to expressed frustration over the N$40 taxi charge to get to the neighbouring towns, one shop owner said the move was harming his business.”When people go to Grootfontein to get their money, they decide to do their shopping there as well,” he said.”It’s definitely affecting businesses negatively.”The same businessman said Standard Bank had informed the settlement that the ATM was removed because it was not making a profit.However, the bank’s official response to this newspaper was that the ATM had been shut down following the closure of the Kombat Country Club, where it had been situated, around two weeks ago.Kombat has a population of between 3 000 and 4 000 people living in and around the informal settlements.The result is that people now have to travel to Grootfontein or Otavi to get their salaries and wages, and neither they nor the small business community are happy about this.While residents The Namibian spoke to expressed frustration over the N$40 taxi charge to get to the neighbouring towns, one shop owner said the move was harming his business.”When people go to Grootfontein to get their money, they decide to do their shopping there as well,” he said.”It’s definitely affecting businesses negatively.”The same businessman said Standard Bank had informed the settlement that the ATM was removed because it was not making a profit.However, the bank’s official response to this newspaper was that the ATM had been shut down following the closure of the Kombat Country Club, where it had been situated, around two weeks ago.Kombat has a population of between 3 000 and 4 000 people living in and around the informal settlements.