Concerted efforts from both the public and private sectors, as well as the community, are needed to address the housing shortage in the mining town of Oranjemund. 

The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, commissioned the groundbreaking for the construction of 85 housing units. 

The groundbreaking ceremony coincided with the handover of 50 houses to the members of the Shack Dwellers Federation. 

The Oranjemund Town Council has also serviced 327 plots at Extension 10, of which 220 are designated for residential. 

Additionally, 75 plots have been set aside for business and industrial purposes in Extension 6.

Extension 6 is also dedicated to middle- to high-income housing projects, with 104 serviced plots available. 

The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development also allocated N$10 million for the development of Extension 11, which will cater for low-cost housing and comprise 288 plots. 

The National Planning Commission also made a budgetary provision of N$1.8 million in the current financial year for the latter housing development. 

The housing developments, says Minister Uutoni, are part of the settlement upgrading and decongestion plan designed to address the housing challenges. 

Uutoni further revealed that approval has been granted to the council's N$6 million low-cost housing scheme, which is expected to build 56 houses in the first phase.