Oshakati clamps down on squatters, vandals

THE Oshakati Town Council has issued a stern warning to squatters that action will be taken against them if they don’t stop erecting illegal structures in the town.

Town Council spokesman Loth Nehemia said most of the shacks are put up during the night, over weekends and on public holidays. “We will do our utmost to make sure that our town is not turned into a squatter camp,” Nehemia said.He warned that all illegal structures would be torn down.Nehemia said the Council had also noticed that “criminal elements” were vandalising community projects.An example of this, he said, was the theft and destruction of fences that were recently erected around the town’s sewage ponds.He warned that the Council would not leave a stone unturned to arrest and prosecute the culprits.Nehemia urged Oshakati residents to immediately report any criminal activities to the Council and the Police.He also urged people who drain septic tanks not to dump the sewage in open spaces around the town, as this was an environmental and health hazard.”Arrangements can be made with the Council to have access to the oxidation ponds,” Nehemia said.”I would like to assure the community and all stakeholders in development that the Oshakati Town Council will continue to take appropriate measures to minimise squatting, vandalism and pollution of our environment,” he added.”We will do our utmost to make sure that our town is not turned into a squatter camp,” Nehemia said.He warned that all illegal structures would be torn down.Nehemia said the Council had also noticed that “criminal elements” were vandalising community projects.An example of this, he said, was the theft and destruction of fences that were recently erected around the town’s sewage ponds.He warned that the Council would not leave a stone unturned to arrest and prosecute the culprits.Nehemia urged Oshakati residents to immediately report any criminal activities to the Council and the Police.He also urged people who drain septic tanks not to dump the sewage in open spaces around the town, as this was an environmental and health hazard.”Arrangements can be made with the Council to have access to the oxidation ponds,” Nehemia said.”I would like to assure the community and all stakeholders in development that the Oshakati Town Council will continue to take appropriate measures to minimise squatting, vandalism and pollution of our environment,” he added.