Renthia Kaimbi
A plan by the Henties Bay Municipal Council to sell 100 hectares of coastal land for a major new development has sparked public outcry. Residents filed a formal objection just a day before the deadline.
The objection, submitted on Wednesday, 8 October 2025, by local property owners, claims the proposed sale to Aetheria Strategic Investments (Pty) Ltd violates ministry directives, lacks transparency and could overwhelm the town’s strained infrastructure.
The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development (MURD) had earlier warned against such land allocations.
In a letter dated 17 April 2025, executive director Wilhelmine Shivute expressed “great concern” over the municipality’s continued sale of large land portions to developers.
The letter stated that selling land exceeding 25 hectares was “not sustainable” and questioned whether such areas were properly surveyed or within the town boundaries.
“All future allocations of such nature will be put on hold immediately,” Shivute wrote. The ministry ordered the municipality to submit a full report on all existing allocations, their progress, and proof of payment.
Despite this, the Henties Bay Council proceeded with plans to sell the 100-hectare North Dune portion of Farm Hentiesbaai Townlands No. 133 for N$10 million to Aetheria Strategic Investments for an “Ocean City Development”.
A local property owner, who requested anonymity, said the municipality failed to make the required layout and locality plans available for public viewing.
“The main thing is that they advertised that the locality and layout plans are available at the municipality, but when you arrive there, they are not available. So, it’s a false advert,” he said.
According to the Local Authorities Act of 1992, the public must be given 14 days after the second advert placement to object, but the resident claims only one notice appeared, on 23 September.
“You do not get any information from anyone at the municipality regarding any land. I sent in my objection only yesterday. They were supposed to advertise it twice according to the law, but I have only seen one advert,” he added.
The objection further alleges that acting chief executive officer of Henties Bay Ignasia Neis confirmed the land “has NOT been surveyed or subdivided yet,” and that maps shown to the public displayed inconsistent, hand-drawn plots.
Residents fear that the proposed “Ocean City” project, which could create over a thousand new plots, would worsen the oversupply of low-density erven, lowering property values and increasing pressure on services.
The objection notes that the town’s water system already struggles during peak seasons, while the sewerage plant operates beyond capacity.
It argues that no major developments should proceed before updating master plans and upgrading basic infrastructure.
Town planner Gift Sinyepe told the Windhoek Observer he was not consulted on the deal.
“I also only got to know about this when the residents came to enquire about it. The residents showed me the advert, but I think the best person to talk to is the acting CEO,” he said.
The objection concludes that residents are not against development but want it done responsibly. It urges the council to reject the sale or, at minimum, ensure the developer funds all necessary water and sewerage upgrades to protect the Omdel aquifer.
The municipal council is required to review the objection and respond in writing. Efforts by the Windhoek Observer to reach Neis, Henties Bay mayor Lewies Vermaak and management committee chairperson Michael Skini were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
