The spokesperson of the Informal Settlement Upgrading Committee, Jacob Tjinae, bemoans the slow progress of the upgrading of the Kanaan C settlement in Gobabis. 

Tjinae said the project started off well last year with the demarcation and pegging of 400 plots in the Kanaan Upper area.

He added that due to demarcation, streets have temporarily been closed while water taps are left in some yards, which frustrates residents.

Tjinae blamed the municipal officials for a lack of support and commitment to the project, as most work is being done by the committee itself voluntarily.

"Those who have to go fetch water to the nearest point where they can get water, so instead of taking a shortcut, now they're taking more than a kilometre, and if we encounter an accident here or a house is burning or a person is sick, there is no access. Streets are closed for ambulances to get through or to help individuals, so to avoid this, our officers, get out of your offices, pull up your socks, take this project very seriously and attend to it because for the community, as you can see, these people are giving a hand and they're cooperating."

Tjinae has called on leaders to visit the areas to assess progress made and view the hindrances for intervention. 

Gobabis Municipality Public Relations Officer Frederick Ueitele acknowledged the delays, which he attributed to the public procurement process. 

Ueitele, however, indicated that the municipality will only step in with the provision of a water and sewer system once the demarcation and pegging are done.

He said if all goes as planned, demarcation and pegging should be completed before the end of this year.