Rehoboth has been nominated as the Namibian finalist in kykNET’s Kwêla Town of the Year competition for 2025.
The initiative recognises and celebrates towns across southern Africa for their unique culture, development, community spirit and local pride.
The competition celebrates towns with a strong Afrikaans culture and vibrant communities. The public selects the winner through SMS voting.
Residents of Rehoboth and Namibia are encouraged to vote, with voting remaining open until 18 July. The winner will be announced in August.
As part of the competition, Rehoboth has been featured on ‘Kwêla’ on DStv’s channel 144 (kykNET & Kie).
The production team visited the town and the crew toured key locations, such us Reho Spa, Edenberry Strawberry Farm and the newly installed ‘I Love Rehoboth’ sign near Kaap Agri next to the B1 highway between Windhoek and Rehoboth.
Councillor Jacky Khariseb says the visit was part of a broader plan to promote the town’s economic potential and civic unity.
“The Rehoboth Town Council is proud of this achievement. Its the council’s role to make Rehoboth beautiful and propel it to higher heights. We want Rehoboth to stand out. The council wants to put Rehoboth out there so that investments can come in more.
“The town council has consistently played a pivotal role in promoting Rehoboth as a thriving tourism hub, showcasing its unique blend of diversity and unity,” he says.
Management committee deputy chairperson Amanda Groenewaldt says Rehoboth is a town with heart, history and hope for the future.
She says participating in the Kwêla Town of the Year competition instilled a sense of pride in residents, highlighting the strong bond between the town and its people.
“We are honoured to have had the Kwêla team at our town to experience what makes Rehoboth special. This opportunity allows us to showcase our town’s warm hospitality, rich culture and the efforts of our dedicated citizens who work tirelessly to uplift the community.
“The involvement of both seniors and juniors in this promotional effort reflects the strong intergenerational cooperation that defines Rehoboth’s leadership. With smiles, laughter, and moments of reflection captured on camera, the shoot brought a renewed sense of pride to all involved,” Groenewaldt says.
Rehoboth resident Brumilda Van Wyk says it is high time for Rehoboth to make it into the spotlight.
“Rehoboth is a loving community with an inspiring history. The term ‘loving community’ often implies a sense of care, support, and inclusivity, which may or may not be universally experienced by all residents or visitors of Rehoboth. The town has a lot to offer,” she says.
The nine finalists for Kwêla’s Town of the Year 2025 are Rehoboth (Namibia), Wilderness (Western Cape), Fauresmith (Free State), Mookgophong/Naboomspruit (Limpopo), Richmond (Northern Cape), Bloemhof (Gauteng/North West), Port Alfred (Eastern Cape), Witrivier (Mpumalanga), and Pennington (KwaZulu-Natal).
The winning town will receive R1 million in marketing value from kykNET and a R1-million cash prize from Lottoland, which will be administered by the town for local development.
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