A group of Warmbad settlement community members protested over a litany of concerns they claimed hampers socio-economic development.

During the demonstration, the protestors, among others, vented their frustrations over the alleged misuse of AK Business Centre, also known as the yellow building, the neglected Warmbad Hotsprings Lodge, the lack of access to potable water, and exclusion from the government’s land distribution programme. 

The protestors believe the traditional authority was financially benefiting from the said building’s rental deal, while the community receives nothing. 

They called for government intervention into the centre’s ownership dispute. 

Charles Laberloth read the petition on behalf of the protestors and said, “The way things are managed, especially in Warmbad, gives us the feeling that it is the Odendaal Plan again, just in another government, just systematically. And it is painful that Warmbad has been neglected for these past years by the government and people we entrusted.”

Despite claiming the centre’s ownership, the Bondelswarts Traditional Authority denied claims of financially benefiting from its rental agreement and instead blamed the Royal House.

It also called on the government to investigate the centre’s rental agreement.

Hans Jossop is the Senior Councillor for the Bondelswarts Traditional Authority and explained that “with the longstanding chieftaincy succession dispute, things are done in contravention of the customary law and in the name of the supposed Royal House, with the royals taking ownership of these things.”

The Royal House, however, also denied any involvement in the rental agreement and called for a stakeholders meeting to be held to address these concerns.

“We do not have any knowledge about the lease of that building, nor are we aware of any operations taking place there. Similarly, we have no involvement in that matter,” said Royal House Member Hendrik Christiaan.

Moreover, the protestors accused the ||Kharas Regional Council of having failed the community for allowing the Warmbad Hotsprings, which was placed under its care, to fall into a state of disrepair.

The ||Kharas Regional Council Chief Regional Officer, Ralph Sachika, said the council is not the rightful custodian of the Warmbad Hotsprings Lodge. 

He explained that the council facilitated a public-private partnership between the community and an investor for management of the facility.

However, the partnership deal expired, and since then, the facility has fallen into a state of neglect.

The CRO was quick to note that the council is exploring ways such as approaching NWR for a new partnership deal.

The ||Kharas Regional Head for the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Division, Carlos Cloete, admitted the challenges the Warmbad community faces.

“Some of the places in Warmbad have saline water. So, meaning, these communities have to go somewhere to get water. Because the government wanted to address that, that’s why we came up with a desalination plant.”

Cloete said the directorate is also considering small pipe connections to ensure access to potable water for all communities.

The protesters also called for an investigation into the Numura ||Karas Region Community Trust, which was set up for the Warmbad community development, alleging that no reports are being provided to the community.