The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development says N$11 million was allocated for the construction of 28 new houses at the Goreangab Extension 4, marking the first phase of a larger project under the Informal Settlement Upgrade Pilot Project (ISUPP).
According to the City of Windhoek’s Section Engineer for Housing, Theunis Heunis, each house within this initial phase reportedly cost N$395,000, including the cost of the land.
The ISUPP aims to construct a total of 113 houses across multiple phases. This will include a variety of options to cater to diverse needs, featuring one-bedroom and two-bedroom flats alongside free-standing two-bedroom houses.
“The cost of the house was N$395,000, including the land. So far, it’s 28 houses, and in total, we’re going to construct 113. But it’s a mix, so we have one bedroom, two bedrooms, and then we have flats. So, there are bigger plots, open plots, and we will construct flats—one-bedroom and two-bedroom flats. So after this one, phase two is 23 houses, two-bedroom houses that will be built,” he said.
Speaking at the handover, the Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Eratus Uutoni, said a further 224 serviced plots are planned for Goreangab Extension 4, with an anticipated completion date of 2025.
“These plots are expected to be ready in 2025 and will result in the construction of at least 400 housing units. I am optimistic that our efforts will yield positive results and that the reduction of shacks in our informal settlements will be evident for all to see,” Uutoni said.
He further explained that proceeds from the sale of these new houses will be deposited into the Housing Revolving Fund.
This Fund directly finances future construction within the ISUPP, ensuring a continuous cycle of development for residents in informal settlements, and plans are underway to replicate the ISUPP in other local authorities across the country.
“To ensure that this project is sustainable, all proceeds generated through the sale of these new houses will be deposited in the Housing Revolving Fund, currently utilised for the funding of houses under the Informal Settlement Upgrading Pilot Project, which will allow us to accelerate the construction of more houses for other beneficiaries residing in other informal settlements,” he said.
The ISUPP is a joint project between the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, the National Housing Enterprise (NHE), and the City of Windhoek, as well as the Khomas Regional Council.
It was launched in June 2020 and focuses on revitalising neglected areas by replacing informal settlements with quality housing units.
Since its inception, the project has delivered over 700 houses. Construction was entrusted to the City of Windhoek and the NHE.
