Residents of Kombat will soon start paying for water.

For the past five months, residents were provided water for free by a farmer, Heinz van Biljon, but he can no longer do so, as the water is no longer sufficient for people and his irrigation scheme.

Since 2006, when Kombat was declared a settlement, residents have been getting water from the mine without paying.

When the mine closed, residents experienced a water crisis until Heinz van Biljon stepped in for five months.

However, the water level in the dam is no longer able to cater for the residents and his farming activities.

Residents took to the street over water supply.

The Otavi constituency councillor, George Garab, says he will consult NamWater to step in.

This will result in residents now having to pay for water supply.

Residents are also complaining about unfavourable living conditions at the Village.

Contacted for comment, Kombat Village Property's manager Charlie Dawid explained that they bought 250 houses back in 2013 from Ongopolo mine.

Those who were staying in the houses were then required to pay rent, but they stopped paying six years ago, saying they could not afford it.

Kombat Village evicted them to allow others who can afford rent to move in.

All houses in Kombat Village are privately owned except two that belong to the state.