Walvis shacks a fire hazard

SQUATTER shacks in Walvis Bay are increasing and with them come many social and health problems.

The frequent occurrence of shack fires was addressed by Walvis Bay Mayor Derek Klazen at the last Council Meeting. The same issue was addressed several years ago by former Mayor King Mandume Muatunga, but shacks are still mushrooming, the fires are increasing, and the victims, community and the municipality are suffering the consequences.It is a catch-22 situation and the problem is nationwide, says Nolito Marques of the Walvis Bay Municipality’s Public Relations Department, but Walvis Bay does want to be open to all those coming from elsewhere to give them the democratic right to seek greener pastures.It’s not an acceptable solution to bulldoze the 6 000 or so shacks and leave the people in the cold, he says.The problem is more complicated, and has to be addressed primarily with education and awareness of the problems that accompany shack dwellings.”It is one of the primary endeavours of the Municipality to ensure that all residents enjoy safe housing conditions.In this vein the increasing number of shacks and subsequent shack fires is of great concern to the Municipality.In the past the housing, fire brigade and town planning divisions have actively attempted to create more awareness of the issue by explaining the illegality, health and fire risks of shack dwellings”, he said.But Walvis Bay is growing rapidly, and job seekers are flocking to the port city while the demand for affordable housing rises.Since 2000, there have been several shack fires, claiming one life.This might not be much on a national scale, but the consequences are not just the loss of a life, and a homeless victim whose possessions have been destroyed.In addition to the damages suffered, the mushrooming of shacks places a heavy burden on the sewage network, and has caused numerous disruptions and pipe bursts, all which have to be repaired by the municipality with the ratepayers’ money.Health issues such as a rapid spread of TB are also associated with the increase in shacks.According to Marques, in many cases fires are caused by negligence due to alcohol abuse, paraffin stoves and candles falling over, and an increasing number of illegal electricity connections that lead to short-circuits.”In terms of building regulations, shack dwellings are illegal.This has been reiterated countless times at various public meetings,” he said.In the meantime, the Municipality’s attempt to provide more low-cost housing, and thus reduce squatting, with the development of the Tutaleni residential area has been successful to some extent.The possibility of a Tutaleni 2 is being considered, Marques hinted.According to Marques, various fishing companies have also taken the initiative to build houses for their employees – maybe one of the solutions would be a similar attempt by other companies or housing providers such as the NHE and Build-Together Programme.The same issue was addressed several years ago by former Mayor King Mandume Muatunga, but shacks are still mushrooming, the fires are increasing, and the victims, community and the municipality are suffering the consequences.It is a catch-22 situation and the problem is nationwide, says Nolito Marques of the Walvis Bay Municipality’s Public Relations Department, but Walvis Bay does want to be open to all those coming from elsewhere to give them the democratic right to seek greener pastures.It’s not an acceptable solution to bulldoze the 6 000 or so shacks and leave the people in the cold, he says.The problem is more complicated, and has to be addressed primarily with education and awareness of the problems that accompany shack dwellings.”It is one of the primary endeavours of the Municipality to ensure that all residents enjoy safe housing conditions.In this vein the increasing number of shacks and subsequent shack fires is of great concern to the Municipality.In the past the housing, fire brigade and town planning divisions have actively attempted to create more awareness of the issue by explaining the illegality, health and fire risks of shack dwellings”, he said.But Walvis Bay is growing rapidly, and job seekers are flocking to the port city while the demand for affordable housing rises.Since 2000, there have been several shack fires, claiming one life.This might not be much on a national scale, but the consequences are not just the loss of a life, and a homeless victim whose possessions have been destroyed.In addition to the damages suffered, the mushrooming of shacks places a heavy burden on the sewage network, and has caused numerous disruptions and pipe bursts, all which have to be repaired by the municipality with the ratepayers’ money.Health issues such as a rapid spread of TB are also associated with the increase in shacks.According to Marques, in many cases fires are caused by negligence due to alcohol abuse, paraffin stoves and candles falling over, and an increasing number of illegal electricity connections that lead to short-circuits.”In terms of building regulations, shack dwellings are illegal.This has been reiterated countless times at various public meetings,” he said.In the meantime, the Municipality’s attempt to provide more low-cost housing, and thus reduce squatting, with the development of the Tutaleni residential area has been successful to some extent.The possibility of a Tutaleni 2 is being considered, Marques hinted.According to Marques, various fishing companies have also taken the initiative to build houses for their employees – maybe one of the solutions would be a similar attempt by other companies or housing providers such as the NHE and Build-Together Programme.