N$75m affordable housing initiative kicks off in Grootfontein

N$75m affordable housing initiative kicks off in Grootfontein The minister of urban and rural development Erastus Uutoni on Thursday officiated the ground-breaking ceremony for a development of a new housing initiative at Grootfontein in the Otjozondjupa Region.
The initiative, spearheaded by Singleton Commercial CC, will see the construction of 122 affordable houses for civil servants - especially teachers, members of the defence force and the police.
The township, to be known as Le Mont Village Mix Development, is the brainchild of Edward Tokolo Kasete, with the backing of development partners Tom van Wyk, a professional quantity surveyor, Antonio De Jesus, a professional electrical engineer, and Roger Herunga, a professional mechanical engineer.
Singleton Commercial obtained the undeveloped land from the municipality of Grootfontein through a public-private partnership in 2017.
“These were approved on private treaty if we performed we can return for extensions of more land. Singleton Commercial is truly honoured to be part of this momentous journey to grow the town of Grootfontein and to be part of the housing delivery solution for our country,” Kasete said.
Uutoni described the initiative as one to be emulated as government alone cannot shoulder the immense investment required for the servicing of land and the construction of low-cost housing.
“It is, therefore, important to state that mitigating our collective shortage as well as affordable housing solutions for all Namibians is a national imperative that requires us to purposefully explore viable alternative ways of ensuring that every Namibian has a decent roof over their heads,” the minister said.
Le Mont Village Mix Development boasts one business plot for a mid-size shopping complex, one institutional plot for a clinic, library or church and eight play parks for children. All the streets in this development will be fully interlocked and paved.
The developers offer turnkey housing projects where clients will sign up for plot and plan, with its sister company as construction contractors.
“We have opted to go this route to control construction quality and workmanship and listen to clients’ concerns during construction till completion. We have put in a clause for a retention period for clients to enjoy their new house with peace of mind,” Kasete said.
To avoid land speculations, no plot will be sold separately. Clients have the option to choose from 18 architecture house plans. The smallest house - 72m2 in size, situated on 406m2 land - goes at a starting price of N$620 000, Kasete said.