The Governor of the Hardap Region held a meeting with the Rehoboth Baster community in which the discussion centred around the identity of the community, their traditional authority, and their ancestral land.

Salomon April informed the community that the foundation of any traditional authority is a juristic area.

The governor said that if the Baster community wants the same treatment as any other traditional authority, they must first seek recognition from government.

He explained that this should be easy, as they already have a language, culture, and traditional belief system.

Once they are recognised, the community will have access to government, which will give them weight and leverage.

April said there are various levels of leadership, including national, regional, local, and traditional leadership.

On the question of Voor Vaderlike Wetter or Paternal Laws, April says that this was not taken away by government and should still serve as customary laws of the Baster community, as is happening in other traditional authorities.

He further advised the community to seek recognition and to speak as one voice to government.

Concern was however expressed by a community member that the Baster community is their own worst enemy as they are not united and are divided into two factions.

April would not entertain issues such as the dispossession of Baster land by the government after one member of the community said that their land was taken away and that they must now be expected to beg for the land.