Deputy Minister of Urban and Rural Development Evelyn !Nawases-Tayele has stressed that Kombat is a settlement under the administration of the Otjozondjupa Regional Council and has not been considered for proclamation as a town or village council.

This was her response to Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) MP Ottilie Haitota, who questioned the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development as to why no local authority has been established there, as the town remains under-serviced and lacks regulation despite its economic significance and renewed mining activities.

The Deputy Minister said that the proclamation of a settlement as a town or village council is subject to requirements that determine whether the area can sustain itself.

She added that the process to proclaim any area as a local authority is initiated only when it is deemed necessary and after confirming that the local economy can sustain the local authority once established.

!Nawases-Tayele said that Kombat is a small settlement area surrounded by commercial firms, which is making it difficult to expand to allow future human settlement.

"The planned township, which is the only available land for the settlement area, consists of 284 plots, of which 22, mostly public open spaces, belong to the government and 262 are privately owned. The 262 erven are developed, and most of the privately owned houses are rented out. No one collects funds for municipal services. If there is a fund being collected by a private person, then it is perhaps for leasing private property over which the Council has no control."

The Deputy Minister further stated that the Otjozondjupa Regional Council has been administering the Kombat Settlement since 2021 from a prefab office, which was constructed in July of 2022.

She said that quarterly meetings have been held since the Settlement Development Committee was established, where they discuss issues of service delivery as well as development.