16 september namib times e edition

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namib times SERVING THE COASTAL COMMUNITY SINCE 1958 NO 6589 FRIDAY 16 SEPTEMBER 2016 Tel: +264 64 - 205854 / +264 64 - 461866 /Fax: +264 64 - 204813 / 064 - 461824 / Website: www.namibtimes.net

Rössmund “golf estate” scandal gets corruption flavour Third coastal lawyer’s Floris Steenkamp Swakopmund corporate services general manager, Marco Swartz, is accused of having unduly benefitted from his relationship as senior local authority official with the Developer of the now scandal-ridden Rössmund Golf Estate as well as the Rössmund Golf Course Close Corporation. Legal documents ob- and have demanded his veloper was never tained by namib times immediate withdrawal signed which could indicate that during from all dealings per- have provided any crethe time Swartz was taining to Rössmund dibility to the golf esrepresenting the Mu- and the Swakopmund tate idea. In fact, in 2013 an agreement was nicipality of Swakop- Municipality. mund in negotiations The matter was also re- entered into between with the Rössmund ferred to the Minister the Rössmund Golf EsDeveloper he owned a of Urban & Rural tate Home Owners residence at Röss- Development for in- Association and the m u n d , b u t w a s vestigation. It is not Rössmund Golf Courexempt from paying known whether the se Close Corporation. levies to the Röss- Honourable Minister In such development it Home Owners As- has yet caused the is admitted that no Golf sociation. During that necessary investiga- Estate exists buy that it is “…an informal golf same period [up to tion to proceed. now] Swartz owns the The Rössmund Golf estate….” Pro-Shop at the Röss- Estate was exposed in Residents started to mund Golf Club, but recent months as a pro- smell a rat several pays no monthly perty scam. The so- years ago. Initially they rental for the floor called Rossmund Golf were happy to pay Estate and the Röss- monthly levies to the space he occupies. Nine residents at mund Golf Club are Rössmund Golf Estate Rössmund have in- two separate entities, Home Owner's Assostructed their legal but was sold back in ciation, as a notarial representative, Advo- 2005 as the Rössmund bond has been recate Richard Met- Golf Estate. Rössmund gistered against each calfe, to investigate is an ordinary suburb of Title Deed in favour of the matter. On 15 July Swakopmund with re- a Section 21 Company. this year in a legal sidents paying rates These notarial deeds letter Advocate Met- and tariffs to the Swa- made provision for this calfe, backed by kopmund municipality home owner's associmaterial evidence, as well as electricity ation and made levies sharply criticised billed separately by compulsory as well as Swartz for having re- E r o n g o R E D t o adherence to rules and presented the Munici- a c c o u n t h o l d e r s . minimum architectural pality of Swakop- Rössmund is an ordi- and building standards. mund in matters with nary suburb as any ot- To add insult to injury Rössmund, but at the her Swakopmund resi- the Rössmund resisame time receiving dential suburb, except dents were forced to these benefits. To date it happens to be situ- use the services of only he has made no reply ated next to the golf 4 selected building contractors. to the allegations. course. Residents outright ac- An agreement between However, when a large cuse Swartz of cor- the Swakopmund Mu- portion of the levies ruption in this matter nicipality and the De- Continues on page 2

involvement probed

Renewed criticism of T/Namib after yet another railway crossing accident

inside

Gondwana outlines strengths for tourism boom

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Peace Run Page 9

There is no respite in the accident rate at Walvis Bay's notorious railway crossings. On Wednesday afternoon this light delivery truck was rammed by an oncoming train at the Rikumbi Kandanga railway crossing. train leaving the railway station. Eyewitnesses at the scene said that it seemed like the driver thought he could take a chance and would make it across in time, but the result proved different. The pick-up was hit by the train on its side. Emergency services rushed to the scene to tend to injuries. Fortunately, no serious injuries were recorded. The incident caused a temporary traffic delay, as motorists were forced to take alternative routes using 5th Street East and 6th Street. TransNamib has also been criticised at the scene of the accident for its continued failure to secure railway crossings in Walvis Bay and the lack of a fenced-off railway reserve. Although there are warning lights and road signs at the railway crossings, it is dilapidated and dirty. People urged the railway authority to re-instate a boom-system and for the entire railway line to be fenced-off for the general safety of pedestrians.

Natis officials clash driving school instructors Erwin Leuschner A dispute between officials of the Swakopmund NaTIS office and various owners of driving schools ensured on Tuesday this week after a high-level visit from the Ministry of Works and Transport was conducted on the premises. The police was called in to ensure law and order – the situation fortunately remained peaceful. Full Report on page 2

Locker vom Hocker

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Gymnastics Africa Championship

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