“Offer to Purchase” method works for City

The City of Windhoek in February suspended the the sale of land by auction and has since replaced it with what is called “Offer to Purchase.”
According to Agnes Kafula, Mayor of the City of Windhoek, the council has committed itself to engage the government on the amendment of relevant laws.
She said during the past few years, the council has noticed the growing public discontent at the practice of selling land by public auction. Amongst others, auctions are blamed for exorbitant and artificial prices of land and properties in Windhoek and many other urban areas across Namibia.
“There has been a misconception on the sale of land, which has been aggravated by the shortage of serviced land against the prevailing demand levels,” she said.
She further said to allow equal opportunities and array misconception, the Offer to Purchase method is a new approach which has been tested previously by the City and has its objective mechanisms to ensure that prices are not artificially inflated.
“It is also designed to ensure that erven remain affordable and are within the reach of the target market. Details on how this formula works are available at our Property Division and have also been provided at the information session held on 10 April at the Khomasdal Community Hall and is equally simplified in the Offer to Purchase documents,” she added.
She also said that her office has noted with concern, misleading media reports by some residents regarding the City’s recent advert inviting offers to purchase serviced erven in Otjimuise Ext 4.
“I wish to inform our residents that the erven in Otjimuise Ext 4 were developed, following a pilot public private partnership project entered into by the council and a private company. Erven developed are targeted for sale to middle and high income groups. The erven for the lower income groups are still under service in Otjimuise Ext 10, as part of the TIPEEG government project,” she added.
She added that the TIPEEG government project is making progress and the contractor will complete the project next month as per the agreed schedule.