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namib times
SERVING THE COASTAL COMMUNITY SINCE 1958 NO 6626 TUESDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2017 Tel: +264 64 - 205854 / +264 64 - 461866 /Fax: +264 64 - 204813 / 064 - 461824 / Website: www.namibtimes.net
Contempt of court - Emily Schneider Waterberg back behind bars Sharlien Tjambari
Well-known Swakopmund estate agent Emily Schneider-Waterberg, who stands accused of malicious damage to property and assault, is once again in custody after her bail was revoked in the Swakopmund magistrates court on Friday. Schneider-Waterberg missed two court appearances and a warrant of arrest was issued. When she appeared in court on Friday, Magistrate Nelao Brown expressed interest to finalise this case, which dates from July 2014 and said the only way to do that is to cancel SchneiderWaterberg's bail and remand her in custody. Since 2014 the case was postponed several times. The case was finally postponed to 22 June 2016 for plea and trial. Schneider-Waterberg was absent and Magistrate Brown had issued a warrant of arrest with immediate effect on that date. On Friday an enquiry for the warrant of arrest was heard. During this Schneider-Waterberg testified that she was in e-mail contact with the state prosecutor, Tanja Jacobie, who has in the meantime resigned. SchneiderWaterberg testified that she sent an e-mail stating that she could not be in court on 22 June and asked for a new date, being 15 September 2016. The prosecutor answered stating that that is in order. She maintained that she did not appear in court on the new date as this date was not confirmed. “What actually baffles me in this case is that the lawyer, Alfred Ellis, and the accused so adamantly insist that the remand requested was between Ms Jacobie and the accused (…). A remand granted is at the behest of the court,” Brown said in her ruling. Subsequently she cancelled the bail as well as warning and remanded Schneider-Waterberg in custody. The accused is eligible to bring a formal bail application again, in order to regain her freedom pending the finalisation of the case.
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Swakopmund housing list close to 9 000 mark The registration process by the Swakopmund municipality was initiated in 2013. It was the intention to provide the municipality with a better understanding of the housing needs in Swakopmund. All the various housing lists, including the DRC Residents, Build Together Programme, Mondesa Backyard Squatters and residents who are renting elsewhere, were combined into the Master Waiting List. It currently stands at 8 920. “Regardless of these efforts the Community Development Services Department receives daily requests from residents who are not on the Master Waiting List and who also wish to apply for housing,” it states in the Agenda. This scenario is a “clear indication” that the need for housing is “increasing at a
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Emily Schneider - Waterberg
Close to 9 000 Swakopmund residents are in need of a home – and more applications are handed in on a daily basis. These figures were revealed during the recent Town Council meeting, where it was decided that the registration process will continue.
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Erwin Leuschner fast rate” due to population growth and the impact of rural-urban migration. During the handover of some of the houses constructed under the Mass Housing Development Programme last year, the Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Sophia Shaningwa, emphasized the need to create a data base of potential housing clients. She said that such a data base will guide and assist government and local authorities in planning and allocating resources for land servicing and the construction of new homes. During the recent Town Council meeting it was decided to continue the registration process of residents in need of houses. They must meet the following criteria though: proof of Namibian citizenship or permanent residence; over the age of 18 and not the owner of any property; not a beneficiary of a government housing subsidy; not married to a person who is a beneficiary of a government housing subsidy, a letter of transfer of employment; and a voter's card.
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