pg 4 pg 3 pg 6 - the namibian · pdf filegrows by 4 000 every year, but the economy only ......

A Publication of

pg 4

GIPF ploughs more funds into its housing scheme

pg 6

Gebhardt, Namibia’s first woman estate agent

pg 3

Not just lavish but affordable

Compiled by: Strategic Publications Division, Sales & Production Team

2 November | 19 | 2014 Property Insight

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• YVONNE AMUKWAYA

Current housing demand stands at 110 000 units and

grows by 4 000 every year, but the economy only supplies 3 200 housing units each year.

This is according to Namene Kalili, manager research and competitor intelligence at FNB Namibia Holdings.

“Therefore 110 000 households compete for 3 200 houses each year and as their incomes and their numbers increase, the competition for housing increases, hence pushing up housing prices,” he said.

“Housing inflation increases the price of other goods and services in the

economy, which in turn increases house prices even further,” he said adding that this starts a vicious cycle of increased prices, which generally slows down economic growth, resulting in job losses, high interest rates and stagflation (stagnant economy with high inflation).

Kalili expects house prices to end 15% higher this year than in 2013. “We do not expect supply to pick up in 2015 and therefore property prices will remain stubbornly high over the next 14 months.”

He said, “Thus far, house prices are 26% higher this year to date, but over the remaining months, we expect house prices to decelerate and end 15%

higher than in 2013.”Asked how housing

prices can be stabilised for the short term, he suggested that municipalities should increase property taxes to incentivise and finance land delivery.

“Preliminary research shows that Namibia has very low property tax rates and this clearly is not sustainable to maintain current infrastructure and service land.”

“For example, if municipalities increase property tax from i.e.

N$ 400 per month to N$ 800 per month, they could use this extra income to service more land,” he explained.

Kalili said that the increased supply of land will bring down the cost of

Housing prices projected to increase land from N$ 1.1 million to N$ 500 000. Households would save N$6 000 monthly in mortgage repayments just because of the additional N$ 400 increase in property tax.

“And the municipality gets to increase its revenue stream in the process, while reducing the cost of living for its residents, stimulating the construction industry and creating jobs. It’s a win-win situation for everybody,” he explained.

In addition, Kalili

said that for the medium term, government needs to understand the cost drivers in housing/land delivery and actively manage these costs to ensure a robust housing delivery programme that is affordable and meets housing demand.

“For the long term, municipal councils must be up-skilled and give strategic oversight to the municipalities, who in turn focus on executing the strategy laid out by council.”

“Council should craft a strategy to deliver sufficient land and allocate sufficient resources to fund the strategy. This way market forces will determine who gets which piece of land and not council,” he suggested.

Furthermore, Kalili said that the country will continue to see the proliferation of shacks within towns. “The social costs of living in a shack includes lower academic achievement, higher school dropouts, higher incidences

of teenage pregnancies, lower life expectancy, higher abuse of alcohol and lower productivity.”

He said that living in a shack does not motivate its dwellers to the same extent that formal housing does. “So they tend to under achieve in life. Furthermore, the noise pollution and exposure to the elements have negative impacts on their health.”

In June, Namibia recorded the second highest house price increase in the world after Dubai.

• YVONNE AMUKWAYA

The Namibia Estate Agents Board (NEAB) has received around 200 cases of misconduct this year. According to Anne Thandeka Gebhardt, the

chairperson for the NEAB, there are a lot of reported cases this year.

“There is a lot of unethical behaviour from estate agents. Most don't know what they are doing. The main problem is that it is difficult for the board to know every individual practising illegally,” said Gebhardt.

The NEAB has the responsibility to maintain and promote the integrity of estate agents.

Namibia adopted the Estate Agents Act 112 of 1976 from South Africa.

She said, “Nobody out there should sell or do renting without a fidelity fund certificate. Any person found guilty of this can be charged with up to five years in prison or N$ 5 000 or both.”

She said that anybody who sells, buys or collects money on behalf of others and does any other real estate related activities for gain and even advertise must be registered.

“All estate agents must have a Fidelity Fund Certificate, which allows them to practice legally otherwise they are breaking the law.”

She said that the board is aware of the increasing rate of unethical behaviour by estate agents, and encouraged members of the public to lay a charge of misconduct against any estate agent who may violate their rights.

“You have the right to lay a charge against the real estate agent at the Board instead of fidgeting around with the agent,” Gebhardt said.

She added that there is a special form to fill in after which the case will be investigated by the disciplinary committee who will then hand the case over to the police as it is out of their control.

Gebhardt said, “The important thing is that it is done properly. Once the case is at the police, you need to go to the police station and swear an affidavit.”

She said the Act is protecting members of the public against unscrupulous estate agents who might try to run away with money they are not entitled to.

All you have to do is submit the contract and receipt when reporting to the Board. It does not cost anything.”

Every registered estate agent is required to pay an extra fee of N$ 200, which is invested in the Fidelity Fund and administered by the Board.

“If a member is proven to be guilty of stealing from a client then the board can pay the client from the fund while the issue is sorted out internally,” said Gebhardt.

She further advised the public to ask for a Fidelity Fund Certificate when dealing with estate agents.

“Ask them if they are registered. It is the only thing that can protect you if things go wrong. But if a person does not have a certificate, we can't help you but we can take the case to the police because they are breaking the law.”

Gebhardt is of the opinion that the reason why unethical estate agents get away with misconduct is because the

public does not report them to the board. In addition, she said that estate agents need continuous

education. “Estate agents need to educate themselves. Unlike many careers, all they are required to do is write an exam,”she said.

Furthermore, Gebhardt said that the market has changed. “Competition is very high. Because of this, people have a tendency of overstepping the rules and regulations in order for them to get the deals.” According to her, the Board has various routes of disciplining misbehaving estate agents. “It has appointed a disciplinary committee, which looks into investigating cases. Or charge them with N$ 1 000 or withdraw their licence.”

The number of estate agents has grown from 343 in 2013 to 790 this year.

Beware of unregistered estate agents

FIDELITY CARD…. A copy of the fidelity card which all registered estate agents must have. All registered estate agents are given an Estate Agents Fidelity Fund Certificate and then issued with a card.

3November | 19 | 2014Property Insight

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• YVONNE AMKWAYA

Situated at the corner of Mandume Ndemufayo and Hosea Kutako Drive in the Southport building is

a seemingly upmarket looking bathroom showroom.

Interior designer, Tania Joubert, established Bath Place two and a half years ago.

Bath place is a family owned and managed business that sells bathroom and sanitary products including tiles.

While the showroom presents itself as one for the sophisticated, according to Joubert, they do not only sell expensive products but good quality affordable entry-level products.

She said that the company cannot compete with the very low end of the product range as their focus is on quality; “Very often people are fooled by the looks but we offer more then what is in the showroom,” she said,

Asked how the company is doing, Joubert said that the company is doing well and has grown, especially in the last year. “The Namibian market is slow to change because they are loyal to their suppliers, but once they have worked with us on big projects, they keep coming back. So we are infiltrating the market gradually,” she confidently stated.

Joubert added, “The main reason why people come back is because of the service which is our top priority, quality of product, which they perceive to be priced just right.”

The company also offers after sales service and provides spare parts for all products. Joubert said they are also able to

assist clients with the design and layout of bathrooms.

“Come with books and pictures. Tell us what you want. Give us your budget and we will source the look that you want,” she said.

Asked why she decided to come up with Bath Place, Joubert said it was because of the fact that consumers had little variety amongst the local’s products.

“We are bringing in alternative sanitary and bathroom ware. Not exactly the same brands as others but different brands that are new in the market,” she said.

According to her, “Most of their products come from Italy, Germany and especially South Africa, as it is easier and faster to get the stock to the country.”

In addition, Joubert said they work closely with architects.

Also, most of their income is derived from specifications on building such as apartments and guesthouses where architects specify the look for which they tender for projects.

The company has gotten tenders such as Auas Hills Retirement Village in Ausblick, which has more then 400 units.

Some other examples are mostly freestanding houses at Omeya, Sacky Nujoma Building, SACU and NQA buildings.

The remainder of their income comes from walk in clients.

Bath Place sells taps, basins, bathtubs, toilets, shower cubicles, bathroom accessories, kitchen sinks, tiles, and showerheads just to name a few. Some if the brands in their stable are Cristina Rubinetterie, an Italian brand and Grohe, a German brand.

EXPERT… Jan Brandt, project manager at Bath Place exhibiting their range. Not just lavish

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FLAWLESS… Dune bath tub for sale at Bath Place.

We are bringing in alternative sanitary

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• YVONNE AMUKWAYA

The Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) has ploughed an extra N$300 million into its housing loan scheme after the initial N$ 100

million that it had invested dried up. “We have received so many applications and the N$100

million that was allocated to us was not enough and thus finished within less than three months,” confirmed Martin Mwinga, First Capital chief executive officer.

According to him, of the N$ 100 million, N$ 70 million was spent on housing loans, funding a total of 107 houses countrywide.

“Of the remaining N$30 million, N$10 million was given to the Outapi Town Council for land servicing and N$ 20 million went to the Ondangwa Town Council also for land servicing,” said Mwinga.

The project was officially launched in May but only started receiving applications in June.

Mwinga said, “There was a lot of misunderstanding around the initiative because people thought they will get

the money cash.”People in the Kavango, Oshakati and Zambezi regions

did not benefit as much as anticipated. “People were skeptic of the scheme at first and only now that they are hearing that people are moving into their houses are they applying.”

Buyers were more in Khomas region (predominantly Katutura and Otjomuise), but Erongo and Karas as well as Otjozundundja regions also dominated.

Mwinga explained that First Capital is currently dealing with more than 200 applications, which they have already submitted.

The total number of houses, as of the end of 28 October 2014, including the 107 that they have financed already amounts to 230. Mwinga said that this number is the exact number of people who have benefited. “Some are still building, some are buying existing houses, while others already have plots and only need money to build their houses.” he said.

He said that their product is in demand. Unfortunately, however, they do not have the same capacity as many banks, which is why the process seems lengthy.

“People come in huge numbers with trucks. You see hundreds and hundreds of people. And when people apply, we need to process the application. And some of them are not applying; they are just coming for enquiries.”

He added, “Unlike in the bank, here you just walk in. But so far, despite the challenge, we have been able to sort out many applications.”

Mwinga said that most of their clients are people who could not qualify for home loans at the banks. “They were under the impression that the scheme is a six-month project. They didn’t know it was a permanent project,” he said.

He explained, “People think that the money will finish. But this money is not finishing. It is revolving. Some people already started paying back.”

Explaining how the process works, Mwinga said, “First you must bring the deed of sale, then we do the processing to see whether you comply with all requirements. This will take three weeks to complete the process, and then we have to send our evaluator to go do the evaluation on the property. After we get the evaluation report, we send

it to the board for approval and go to GIPF, presenting to them the clients that have been approved, so that they can release the funds.”

“We just do a small component. Applications still need to go to the lawyers and deeds office.”

First Capital recently opened offices in Ondangwa, Rundu, Katima and Outapi as well as Swakopmund.

The GIPF Housing scheme is divided into the revolving housing fund, which focuses on proclaimed areas and the pension-backed home loan, which finances houses in rural areas.

In the case of the revolving housing fund, which First Capital administers, the home is used as collateral as the asset increases in value.

Mwinga said, “Some people are 50 years old and would have been retiring without a house but for the first time they are able to own one”

He urged people to buy houses as wealth is built through property ownership.

“That is why we want our people to buy property in town as they can increase in value. It is very important for people to own houses.”

“Buy a house, even if you are 55 years old and live in it for five years before you retire. When you sell the house, you can make good profits in addition to your pension money,” he stressed.

One of the oldest individuals whom the fund financed is a 57-year-old woman, who could not afford a house in Windhoek and instead bought one in Okahandja.

“For each loan, the house covers 100% of the value cost. That means it is able to finance itself should anything go wrong. Thus, in terms of risks, there is almost none.” he shared.

While the banks repossess houses when clients fail to repay their loans, Mwinga said, “We do not repossess. We tell you to sell it, pay us back and take the profit for yourself. The bank sells and takes the profit for themselves.”

Qualifying loan amount depends on an individual’s salary; monthly expenses and debts and is charged on an interest rate of 10%.

Lastly, Mwinga said that the N$300 million should be able to take them up until next year May.

ploughs more funds into its housing schemeGIPF

Buy a house, even if you are 55 years old and live in it for five years before you retire. When you sell the house, you can make good profits in addition to your pension money.

OPPORTUNITY … Citizens earning as little as N$5 000 now able to own a home because of the GIPF Housing Loan Scheme.Photo: Jordaania Andima

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it to the board for approval and go to GIPF, presenting to them the clients that have been approved, so that they can release the funds.”

“We just do a small component. Applications still need to go to the lawyers and deeds office.”

First Capital recently opened offices in Ondangwa, Rundu, Katima and Outapi as well as Swakopmund.

The GIPF Housing scheme is divided into the revolving housing fund, which focuses on proclaimed areas and the pension-backed home loan, which finances houses in rural areas.

In the case of the revolving housing fund, which First Capital administers, the home is used as collateral as the asset increases in value.

Mwinga said, “Some people are 50 years old and would have been retiring without a house but for the first time they are able to own one”

He urged people to buy houses as wealth is built through property ownership.

“That is why we want our people to buy property in town as they can increase in value. It is very important for people to own houses.”

“Buy a house, even if you are 55 years old and live in it for five years before you retire. When you sell the house, you can make good profits in addition to your pension money,” he stressed.

One of the oldest individuals whom the fund financed is a 57-year-old woman, who could not afford a house in Windhoek and instead bought one in Okahandja.

“For each loan, the house covers 100% of the value cost. That means it is able to finance itself should anything go wrong. Thus, in terms of risks, there is almost none.” he shared.

While the banks repossess houses when clients fail to repay their loans, Mwinga said, “We do not repossess. We tell you to sell it, pay us back and take the profit for yourself. The bank sells and takes the profit for themselves.”

Qualifying loan amount depends on an individual’s salary; monthly expenses and debts and is charged on an interest rate of 10%.

Lastly, Mwinga said that the N$300 million should be able to take them up until next year May.


• YVONNE AMUKWAYA

A MATHS and science teacher by profession, Anne

Thandeka Gebhardt has proven herself countless times and has scored many firsts as the first black real estate agent in Namibia, and a woman for that matter.

In an interview with The Namibian, Gerbhardt said she had never thought she would ever be an estate agent much less know anything about housing and property until she moved to Windhoek and fate pushed her down that path.

“I didn’t know what real estate was and being black we did not know about property ownership that time because of the dispensation then.”

Like many other parents, Gerbhardt, a mother of three, wanted the best for her children and moved to Windhoek from Arandis in 1985 in order to enrol them at better schools.

She said when they moved to Windhoek, she did not want to be a

housewife and got a job at Tucsin. However, it was not long before her job became too demanding and she left Tucsin.

“That is when I looked into the real estate industry. I just thought I would sell one house per month and make that little commission so I would not be too dependent on my husband but little did I know what I was getting myself into,” Gebhardt said.

In 1990 she registered as an estate agent. “When people where busy celebrating Independence, I was writing exams and received my certificate in April,” she said proudly.

“When I received my certificate, I already had a company that wanted to hire me,” she said.

Gebhardt started working for Southern Estate, which was the biggest estate agency then with a staff compliment of 26.

“The estate agents were all white of course and I was the first black estate agent in the company and actually in Namibia,”

Gebhardt said.She said because it was

just after independence, the market was lucrative. “It was the first time that black people had the opportunity to own property and being the only black estate agent in the market, black people were more comfortable working with me.”

Gebhardt spent the first five years of her new career at the company, scooping all the company awards with sales exceeding N$10 million a month, setting the bar for other estate agents.

“Every year I took all the awards and was offered shares in the company in 1994 so I became a shareholder and was also the director responsible for training estate agents.”

She said that was a big advantage to the new estate agents. “I would train them from my experience. And more black estate agents came into the market,” said Gebhardt.

“I think they saw my performance and they were encouraged. And within two years, we had a good mixture of black and white

estate agents,” she added.She said that in 1995

her partner wanted to concentrate on developing a hospital in Rhino Park because Rhino Park was one of the developments started by Southern Estates and got the rights to develop the land.

“He saw the opportunity for a hospital, vet and then a service station but the hospital was the most important one as he started it from scratch,” Gerbhardt said.

She then broke away from the company after her partner wanted to shrink the real estate part of the company.

“I had a lot of clients that were attached to me. I could not just leave them or the estate agents that I was nurturing. So I decided to break away in May 1995 and form my own company,” said Gebhardt.

She then formed National Estates cc and has never looked back.

Gebhardt said, “It was easy for me to start. In the real estate business, if you are good to people, they

will follow you wherever you go. So when I left Southern Estates, people were looking for me.”

Her company started with 16 estate agents who followed her from Southern Estates. She said, the market was very good.

“The housing prices were high but not what they are right now. Things started to change in the market in the last 10 years. But then it was good,” she stated.

Since then, Gebhardt said she has cut down on her staff compliment but has satellite estate agents.

“Actually it was my plan three years ago not to get involved as an individual in the market but to empower the estate agents that were working with me,” she explained.

Gebhardt said, “It is very important if you want to become a successful estate agent to be attached to a company for a year or two so you learn then start your own establishment.”

She said that the market in Katutura and Khomasdal was very active at the time,

and as a result she was able to sell 25 houses a month.

“If I could not find houses for the people, I knocked on the door of the municipality to release ervens for the people. I then worked hand in hand with builders so we could build houses for the people those days,” said Gebhardt.

“However land has become almost unavailable and the rules on releasing land to the people have changed,” she shared.

Gebhardt said that one of the challenges then was that the banks did not understand the Katutura/Khomasdal market.

“Most of the applications were turned down because their reason was that the property don’t meet the evaluation criteria. It needed us (Southern Estates management) to one-day take the top management of the banks to visit a few of the properties that they had turned down. And we managed to convince them that the evaluation criteria that they were using in those areas was not correct,” explained Gebhardt.

She said that by visiting those houses, the banks changed their evaluation criteria because they were impressed.

In addition, Gebhardt advised people to take care of their properties. “If a tap is leaking, fix it. Make sure everything is in perfect

condition because it is your investment. Not the banks.”

She also advised estate agents to better manage their companies. “Many estate agents have cash flow problems. This is because you only get money after your deal has come to a final end which can take up to three months.”

“So if you don’t plan properly then you will sit for three months with no income. You must always work on new deals once you complete a deal. Because you would have to wait for at least three months before you get paid on that deal,” she said.

“If you finish one today, do not sit and celebrate. Look for another one because this one might not even go through and you will be stuck. The more deals you do, the better for you,” advised Gebhardt.

In 1999, Gebhardt started a training academy, the National Property Academy because nobody in the industry was doing it but in the last two years, the academy has slowed down. However, her plan is to start afresh next year.

“People are complaining about estate agents. It is important for me to revive the academy.”

Asked who her role model is, Gebhardt said Christo van Niekerk, who was her mentor and the MD of Southern Estate during her time at the company.


The housing prices were high but not

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Photos: Jordaania Andima



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in Kleine Kuppe is a perfect example of the new business model with residential, business, commerce, shopping and light industrial all weaved together. And people are just waking up to that.”

He said that his company's idea is to turn Sungate into an urbanized mixed-use town, even though the initial focus was on the light industrial, airports related aspect of the development.

“It's not just an industrial area. You can have a place where you can stay, work and live. It is a mixed-use development. Although the idea was never to lure people and business away from Windhoek's current industrial areas, there is a definite need for such a new integrated living space.”

When The Namibian visited the development, basic services were already established. The Puma service station is set to open in December 2014.

“Investors and developers are already building there. It is exactly the same as any other industrial area with water, sewage and electricity connections. If everything is in place, you can buy today, transfer tomorrow and build next week,” Ellis explained.

He said that Sungate services will not be pricier than that of the Municipality of Windhoek. “We are resellers of water and electricity but we use the rates as applied by the City of Windhoek,” Ellis stated.

Erven in the first phase are currently selling at N$550 to N$750 per square metre, which is cheaper than in Windhoek based on studies done.

“We did a study around Windhoek, and a plot at Lafrenz Industries goes for about a N$1 200 per square metre. The price increases as you go more south and can go up to N$ 4 000 per square metre,”he said.

“That is why people are buying in Rehoboth and Okahandja but this is becoming costly at the same time as you have to spend more on fuel.”

The Roads Authority are planning a dual carriage highway from Windhoek past the airport linking it to the current Western bypass. This, according to Ellis, will benefit the people that will reside at Sungate as the distance is much shorter and you will be able to commute to and from the estate in less than 20 minutes.

Asked what the building standards are at Sungate, seeing that it is within an 8km obstacle free zone to an international airport, Ellis said,“There is a precinct document, which details the building lines, the urban look and feel of the town, the height restrictions, as well as what is encouraged and discouraged when building.

Although Sungate will not apply for Export Processing Zone (EPZ) status due to its scope, size and mixed-use functionality, manufacturers can still apply individually and it is possible that their business can get an export processing zone status within the greater estate.

A jewel in the making• YVONNE AMUKWAYA

DEVELOPMENT at Sungate is well underway. This has

been confirmed by Geon Ellis, general manager of Accolade Properties, the owners and developers of Sungate, a new multi purpose estate, situated 40km out of Windhoek, next to the Hosea Kutako International Airport and is set to become the gateway into Namibia.

Sungate has already sold 13 of the initial 25 erven in the first phase, Phase 1AB. The 408-hectare development is divided into Phase One and Phase Two, with Phase One divided into A, B C and D.

In an interview with The Namibian, Ellis said that Sungate is moving away from the segregated American model, which promoted suburban living, as Sungate's design is more integrated - creating a connected living

space between business, light industrial and residential.

“We wanted to have a small town. Traditionally, there was division and segregation, which you see this in Windhoek and all over the modern world. But we want to have work, play and commerce weaved together,”he said.

“You will find people in larger cities like Johannesburg stuck in traffic for 2/3 hours just to get from home to

work. People don't want that anymore. The suburban model is not sustainable and things are changing,”Ellis said.

He further said, “Your residence, work and shopping should be weaved together. That is what the upcoming generation is looking for. They don't want to sit in traffic for hours just to get to a place.”

Referring to one of the country's biggest developments in Windhoek, Ellis said, “What is happening

EXPLAINING… General Manager of Accolade Properties Namibia, Geon Ellis.

...a jewel in the making...

“Sungate is situated 40km out of Windhoek, next to theHosea Kutako International Airport and is set to becomethe gateway into Namibia”.

“Your residential, work and shopping should be weaved together and that is what the upcoming generation is looking for. Where they don’t sit in traffic for hours just to get to a place.”

Poudly developed by:

Basic services are already established and the Puma service station is set to be open in December.

Plots in the first phase are currently selling at N$550 to N$750 per square metre, which is much cheaper, than Windhoek.

Contact: 081 279 6369, 061 222 891, www.sungate.ws

NOWSELLING

12 of 25 ERVEN

still available

Commercial | Light Industrial | Business

Artist Impression of SUNGATEPhase 1AB


in Kleine Kuppe is a perfect example of the new business model with residential, business, commerce, shopping and light industrial all weaved together. And people are just waking up to that.”

He said that his company's idea is to turn Sungate into an urbanized mixed-use town, even though the initial focus was on the light industrial, airports related aspect of the development.

“It's not just an industrial area. You can have a place where you can stay, work and live. It is a mixed-use development. Although the idea was never to lure people and business away from Windhoek's current industrial areas, there is a definite need for such a new integrated living space.”

When The Namibian visited the development, basic services were already established. The Puma service station is set to open in December 2014.

“Investors and developers are already building there. It is exactly the same as any other industrial area with water, sewage and electricity connections. If everything is in place, you can buy today, transfer tomorrow and build next week,” Ellis explained.

He said that Sungate services will not be pricier than that of the Municipality of Windhoek. “We are resellers of water and electricity but we use the rates as applied by the City of Windhoek,” Ellis stated.

Erven in the first phase are currently selling at N$550 to N$750 per square metre, which is cheaper than in Windhoek based on studies done.

“We did a study around Windhoek, and a plot at Lafrenz Industries goes for about a N$1 200 per square metre. The price increases as you go more south and can go up to N$ 4 000 per square metre,”he said.

“That is why people are buying in Rehoboth and Okahandja but this is becoming costly at the same time as you have to spend more on fuel.”

The Roads Authority are planning a dual carriage highway from Windhoek past the airport linking it to the current Western bypass. This, according to Ellis, will benefit the people that will reside at Sungate as the distance is much shorter and you will be able to commute to and from the estate in less than 20 minutes.

Asked what the building standards are at Sungate, seeing that it is within an 8km obstacle free zone to an international airport, Ellis said,“There is a precinct document, which details the building lines, the urban look and feel of the town, the height restrictions, as well as what is encouraged and discouraged when building.

Although Sungate will not apply for Export Processing Zone (EPZ) status due to its scope, size and mixed-use functionality, manufacturers can still apply individually and it is possible that their business can get an export processing zone status within the greater estate.

A jewel in the making

A PLACE TO CALL HOME …. Informal settlements on the outskirts of Windhoek are growing as housing and land prices continue to increase. Namibia has the second highest housing prices after Dubai.

Celebrating 25 years anniversary1989 – 20141989 – 2014

KALAHARI HOLDINGS (PTY) LIMITED PORTFOLIOS

• Property development and management• Passenger and cargo transportation• TV Entertainment and radio broadcasting• Security services• Video production• Retailing• Farming • Financial and Insurance services• Mining • Hospitality

VISION

Kalahari Holdings (Pty) Limited is an established corporate entity, competitive, profitable and playing a prominent role in the socio-economic development of Namibia.

MISSION

To provide quality goods and efficient and effective customer-centered transportation, security, hospitality and entertainment services amongst other, through the use of appropriate technology and a highly skilled and motivated workforce.

INVESTMENT PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT

Kalahari Holdings (Pty) Limited is continuing its property industry penetration at a fast rate of knots. The company has identified various capital projects that have great potential, with an eventual goal of boosting development in such areas and contributing to the country’s economic development. The property industry is one of the fastest growing industries in Namibia which has shown gradual growth in the past, which is reminiscent of a low risk industry, and Kalahari Holdings (Proprietary) Limited is up for the task, to exploit all the opportunities on offer.

Kalahari Holdings (Pty) Limited has embark upon capital projects during this current financial year to construct small and medium business centres to accommodate SME’s, office space as well as residential apartments.

The business centres projects that are currently being developed are in Maltahohe, Oshakati and Arandis as well as an upmarket office block in Windhoek.

161 Nelson Mandela Avenue, Multichoice Building, 2nd Floor, ErosP.O. Box 20919, WindhoekFax: +264 61 221158

AS A PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT BUSINESS ORGANISATION

KH Oshakati Business Centre

KH Village - Pominaded Road, Eros

KALAHARI HOLDINGS (PTY) Ltd

ContactJohanna Vries 061-225333

[email protected]

Coming soonShops/o�ce area range from

52 m2 – 265m2

WINDHOEK HIRE SALES & SERVICES

International Award for Business Excellence

Madrid - Spain 2014

Winner PMR Golden &

Diamond Awards

www.whssnamibia.comTel: +264-61-233693 • [email protected] • 5 Nickel Street • Prosperita • Windhoek

Tel: +264-64-462020 • [email protected] • 36 Hidipo Hamutenya St. • Swakopmund

Why buy ... if you can hire ...

HARD AT WORK … Children in the Havana informal settlements area helping with the foundation of their home. Photos: Jordaaania Andima.


The NSA releases regular sectoral reports on various sectors including:

The reports are available on our website @ www.nsa.org.na/publications/and at our o�ce.

Agency

Namibia Statistics Agency, P. O. Box 2133, Windhoek, FGI House, Post Street Mall

Tel: 061 431 3200

Livestock marketed index (respective month 2010 = 100)

Livestock

and

more!Beds and Rooms Occupancy Indices

TourismComposite transport index

Transport

www.nsa.org.na

• YVONNE AMUKWAYA

Fifty of the 600 envisaged houses for the mass housing project in Swakopmund are nearly completed.

This is according to Waldheim Shiluwa, managing director of Ferusa Capital Partners. Ferusa was awarded the mass housing tender to construct 600 houses valued at nearly N$ 17 million by the implementing agency of the programme, the National Housing Enterprise (NHE).

In an interview with The Namibian, Shiluwa said that the construction of the 600 houses is progressing well.

He said that even though the project is still in the foundation stage, the first 200 of the 600 houses will be done by February 2015.

Ferusa Capital Partners was founded in 2008. Starting with projects in various areas of Windhoek, the company has now grown to manage construction projects all over Namibia.

As a property development company, Shiluwa said that its aim is to provide affordable houses for lower and middle income categories.

Shiluwa noted that land prices are extremely high. “Finding land is a major challenge. Municipalities say there is no land to build on and when there is, it comes at a ridiculously high price for potential house owners. That is why Ferusa tries to build as fast as possible and also on a larger scale,” he shared.

According to him, more people are entering the property development market. “Everyone thinks that is where the money is. But you have to spend money to make money.”

Shiluwa said that in the near future, his company plans to enter the financing market by giving loans to its clients.

The company is in negotiations to build more houses in Henties Bay, Karibib and Oshakati in the near future.

“Our focus until recently has been on private developments, however, with several successful projects under our belt, we are now in a position to enter into public-private partnerships,” he said.

In addition, Shiluwa said that Ferusa Capital Partners has several projects in Walvis Bay, Okahandja and Windhoek.

First 200 mass housing units in Swakop to be completed in February

TELLING IT... Waldheim Shiluwa, managing director of Ferusa Capital Partners.

• YVONNE AMUKWAYA

According to Thomas Slabbert, head of home loans at FNB

Namibia, it is important for first-time home buyers to consider additional costs that are involved when purchasing a home.

“Customers must know exactly what they are getting into cost-wise. To a house priced at something like N$ 1 million, some additional costs such as transfer fees and bond costs must be factored in by prospective buyers ,” said Slabbert.

He said that what is important is to know that the transfer fee is the cost between the seller and purchaser.

Slabbert said that when applying for a home loan, the Bank does an affordability calculation whereby it will calculate whether an individual or a couple is able to afford a house.

“The loan repayment should however not exceed 30% of your gross income.”

He added, “From the bank the applications are sent to attorneys who will determine the transfer fees and bond costs. A house within the range of N$600 000 will not cost you anything on transfer and stamp duties.”

Banks normally charge an administration fee of

N$ 6 000 for a first bond.Slabbert advised

homebuyers to know the scales used to determine rates

adding that it is important for prospective buyers to save up for a deposit on their houses.

“Start saving for your home every month when you are considering buying property, even if it is just a small amount. It makes it much cheaper and also increases your chances for qualifying for a loan,” he said.

Asked whether banks are able to supply the increased demand for houses, Slabbert said that banks do have adequate funds, however there is scarcity of housing and serviced land.

He said, “Windhoek is the third largest city in world by its boundaries but we do not have serviced land. People in Windhoek need houses and they go for the first thing that they find.“

Slabbert said that what happens is that developers buy land, build houses and sell them to first-time buyers at often ridiculous prices. “ A developer normally takes 25% profit and you as buyer need to make provision for that payment. Everybody is in for a profit and the person who has to bear those costs is the buyer.”

Slabbert also advised current homeowners to pay more on their monthly premiums whenever they have spare funds. “This could save you years of repayment. You can always draw it back when times are hard.“

Interest rates at the bank is currently 10.75% on home loans.

Tips and advice for first-time home buyers

2 Bedroom units, single garage N$996 000

2 Bedroom units, double garageN$1 220 000

3 Bedroom units, double garageN$1 350 000

(Transfercost & Agentscommission

included)

Contact our agents at:

Karien – 081 250 4690 | Ruth – 081 240 7350 | Jackie - 081 246 3590Hettie – 081 270 4333 | Lana – 081 350 1827 | Moira – 081 147 6475Office: 064-280 600 | E-mail: [email protected] | www.grobbies-estates.com


• YVONNE AMUKWAYA

Established in March 2012, Springbok Properties has grown from strength to strength.

A qualified financial accountant by profession, Jaco Greeff is the founding owner of Springbok Properties. The company focuses on commercial, residential, industrial, new developments and rentals property sales.

While the real estate market has seen a growth in the number of estate agents and companies, few have earned a reputable name for themselves. According to Moira Hanekom, the manager of Springbok Properties, buying a house is a huge decision. “It is not only about the sale but fitting the right person to the right house and that is what we strive to do.”

She said, “If you however decided what your dream house should look like, but don't yet know where in the country you are going to encounter it, Springbok Properties offers the ideal opportunity.”

“Contact us with your description of conditions and a agent will return to you with possible choices,” stated Hanekom.

In addition, she said that if a client wants to put their property on the market and willingly offer someone the opportunity to make it their dream house, clients should forward the particulars of the property to the same address, and Springbok will make it work. “Thus no standing in a line out, only advancing with the team,” said Hanekom.

According to her, they have regularly surpassed the goal line and significantly shifted the goal posts.

Springbok Properties does free furniture removals for their clients, making them one of the few real estate companies that offer this service,. “We arrange and pay for free furniture removals for home buyers to move to their new property,” she said.

Currently, the company is aiming to give back to the community.

In the latest phase of their gameplay, from the commission of the transaction, they offer parents who have been assisted through them, with a home purchase transaction on finalization, the opportunity to have a solid 10% reimbursement back into the parents' pockets for their school tuition and fees for the institution their children attend,.

“There is also a bonus point for schools herewith involved: Provided that the portion from the commission on such a transaction (for example where a commercial property is involved) is more than the school fees itself, the school can benefit and allocate the money for initiating capital projects,” she explained.

Hanekom said that this initiative applies to any school and anybody who feels they eligible on this basis to a property transaction, is invited to contact their team.”

In a market where there is such tight competition, Greeff said that cost effectiveness and service delivery has contributed to their success while poor service and inept handling of clients without doubt deserves a yellow card.

The company aims to make the selling and buying of real estate faster, less costly, and easier. Springbok Properties and all Springbok Properties staff are members of the Estate Agents Board.

moving from strength to strength

From left to right, the Springbok team Eleanor Bassingthwaighte (Agent), Jaco Greeff (Owner) and Moira Hanekom (Manager).

Springbok Properties

• YVONNE AMUKWAYA

Lydia Amutenya, the City of Windhoek’s public relations officer has urged residents who want to

amend their houses to comply with the City's building regulations. “The rules are that, if you have a structure that is not corresponding with the plan approved by the municipality, you will not be issued a compliance certificate, until you have rectified the discrepancies,” she said.

If an inspection was requested and carried out and the work or part thereof has been condemned or rejected, the owner may not proceed with the work or part thereof, unless a follow-up inspection had been called for and the work accepted.

“The City of Windhoek needs to issue a compliance certificate for transfer to be effected. A Compliance Certificate will not be issued if the building plans do not correspond to the improvements made on such property,” said Amutenya.

The process of making structural amendments to the property starts with

drawing a new building plan, which must be submitted to the City of Windhoek for approval. Only after the approval has been granted, may the resident go ahead and do alternations to his/her property as per the approved building plan.

Once the application form and supporting documents have been accepted by the Building Control Division, the scrutinizing process starts.

Amutenya said. “The City has the responsibility to ensure that the plans are scrutinised and approved within a period of 28 working days as per the building regulations.”

“However, it should be noted that sometimes there are corrections that need to be made in the plans by the clients and if that is the case, the client is informed to collect the plan and amend it accordingly before re-submitting it for approval,” she added.

Amutenya advised residents to correct the discrepancies. “Ensure that the building structure conforms to the approved building plan.”

Comply with building regulations

We cater for:

• Building • Electrical • Tilling • Road construction • Interlocks • Renovation • Painting • Plumbing

➢ Town houses ➢ Warehouses ➢ Churches ➢ Stone pitching and

gabions ➢ Fencing ➢ Electrical ➢ Plumbing ➢ Construction and

rehabilitation of sewage works, ➢ Construction, erection, rehabilitation

and maintenance of concrete, PVC water reservoirs.

General building of:

For all your construction and maintenance works contact us today P O Box 3754, Windhoek, NAMIBIA

Mobile: +264 81 241 2502 / 81 128 5909Tel: 061 - 227 253 / Fax: 061 - 227 256

E-mail: [email protected]. No. CC/2009/19285.

CONSTRUCTION & CONTRACTING SERVICES

PERFECT PLUMBING & RENOVATIONS cc

Our God shall perfect all that concerns our clients: Psalm 138:8

ONLY SERIOUS BUYERS PLEASE. OTHER AGENTS WELCOME.

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OTHER AGENTS WELCOME!

Divide this property into 4 separate units or keep it as one big family get- a- way.9 bedr. 8 bathr.4 kitchens,3 indoor BBQ ,1 outdoor BBQ, 8 GARAGES, OFFICE, WOODEN

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URGENTLY LOOKING FOR THE FOLLOWING PROPERTIES TO BUY AND RENT PLEASE: COMMERCIAL | RESIDENTIAL | WAREHOUSES | DEVELOPMENTS | INVESTMENT PROPERTY | OFFICE SPACE

WANT TO BUY, SELL OR RENT? TALK TO OUR QUALIFIED STAFF AT SPRINGBOK PROPERTIES FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVISE AND SERVICE!

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Investment property for sale close to city centre. 1200m2 N$5 200 000

Various Farmsin Namibia Ranging

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Our FutureUse facility lets you register a bond higher than the current valuation of your home, creating surplus money for the future renovations you dream of.

get a home loan with your dreams built in.

Visit your nearest FNB branch or call us at tel: (061) 299 2222.

www.fnbnamibia.com.na Terms and conditions apply.

• YVONNE AMUKWAYA

The low income of household heads is a major obstacle for communities to access housing.

The majority of Namibians (an estimated 70%) earns below N$ 1 500 per month, while only 6% earn above N$ 6 000.

This is according to the preliminary informal settlements socioeconomic survey, which was carried out across 116 informal settlements and in 64 urban areas with a total number of 33 276 households, covering 213 429 people, equating an average of 6 people per household.

The survey results were presented by the Shack Dwellers' Federation of Namibia (SDFN) at the Community Land Information Programme (CLIP) review recently.

Last month, Namene Kalili, manager research and competitor intelligence at FNB Namibia Holdings, said at a median price of N$774 000, households must earn at least N$ 23 000 per month to afford an average property. This makes houses unaffordable to all the households enumerated.

According to Dr Anna Muller, the national coordinator of the Namibia Housing Action Group (NHAG), “Residents in informal settlements are at times given favourable prices by municipalities. However, this varies from one local authority to another.”

She said that with regard to the City of Windhoek, there is nothing being processed for the sale of land currently, while in smaller towns land is being sold at an average fee of N$8,00 per

square metre. “In Windhoek, for land that has

been formally planned (Tweetheni and Ehangano informal settlements) in Okuryangava, negotiations are ongoing, this is where an enumeration has been carried out in partnership with the City.”

Muller said that the last land sale to SDFN was in 2010. “SDFN bought land from the City of Windhoek at N$ 57,50 per square metre and the price is increasing annually based on the market and location.”

The door-to-door socioeconomic enumeration of households and settlement mapping, to date covered a total 33 276 households with a total 213 459 occupants in both informal settlements and backyard structures. “Interestingly, 52% of the heads of households are female,” said Muller.

At 32%, housing was prioritised as the first development need of the largest portion of households, followed by security of tenure (25%), water (14%) and toilets (12%).

From the data collected, it became clear that the main source of income for the households is from permanent jobs (21,9%), 11,96% from temporary employment, pension (0,03 %) and the majority having indicated they have no income (66,92%).

The survey also collected information on the living conditions. The results indicated that 52% of the informal settlement residents enumerated have access to communal water taps, 1% has access to other water sources, which include boreholes and river water, and 47% of residents

have access to private water taps. The sanitation scenario for people

living in informal settlements is much worse with almost half of the households (49%) using the bush or desert (while nationally 22,4% of urban dwellers are without toilets), 22% use pit latrines, 26% flush toilets and 3% use public toilets.

The first profiling of informal settlements was completed in 2008 when communities profiled 235 informal settlements (with an estimated population of 500 000) with the support of the SDFN and NHAG.

The Community Land Information Programme (CLIP) is creating a platform for Community and Local Authority engagement in the formalisation of informal settlement, focusing on an incremental development approach.

Muller said that the community is given an opportunity to participate in the planning of their settlement and focus on their development. In addition, “choosing a strategy for formalisation in partnership with the local authorities.”

“In the case of Gobabis, community prepared their own layout with the assistance from the Polytechnic of Namibia and NHAG and with the input of the local authority, the formalization will start as soon as the local authority approves the layout plan, “she said.

The data was collected by community members in informal settlements through the CLIP, funded by the Spanish Cooperation Office and assisted by the Alliance for Solidarity, a Spanish NGO.

Income categories

Income (N$) Percentage

1-1500 69.93%

1501-3000 17.36%

3001-4500 4.52%

4501-6000 1.98%

6001-750 5.36%

+7501 0.85%

Grand Total 100.00%

Development needs (of households that provided data)

Development needs

Female Male Grand Total

Number % Number % Number

House 33.16% 4,727 31.86% 4,120 32.59%

Land 23.72% 3,381 26.41% 3,416 24.81%

Electricity 16.79% 2,394 15.90% 2,056 16.60%

Water 14.89% 2,123 14.01% 1,812 14.42%

Toilets 11.43% 1,630 11.82% 1,529 11.58%

Grand Total 100.00% 14,255 100.00% 12,933 100.00%

Property ownership a far-away dream

EMPOWERED ... Community members presenting survey results. Photo: Contributed

pg 4 pg 3 pg 6 - the namibian · pdf filegrows by 4 000 every year, but the economy only ......

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