Farm Sandputz in the Hardap Region was never expropriated by the government and is still considered state land, of which the government holds the title deed.

The Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform Minister, Carl Schettwein, was responding to a question in the National Assembly posed by opposition member Jan Van Wyk about the land ownership of Farm Sandputz.

In response to this rather sensitive but controversial matter of land ownership in Namibia, Schettwein explained in detail the land administration in the country, with emphasis on the former Rehoboth Gebied in particular.

In narrating the history and ownership of Farm Sandputz No 50, Schettwein did not mince his words in clearly stating that at no stage was Farm Sandputz expropriated by the government. "The record reflects that the whole farm known as Farm Sandputz No 50 was initially 8872.0049 hectares in extent and registered in the name of Die Rehoboth Bastergeemeente on the 13th of March 1978. On the 26th of April 1991, a subdivision of the main farm was done and registered as a portion of the Farm Sandputz, measuring 158.00 hectares and transferred to the Estate of Hans Dentlinger."

In 1989, under the powers granted by the Rehoboth Self Government Act, Act 56 of 1976, the property was transferred to the then Administrator-General of Namibia in anticipation of and in preparation for the independence of Namibia, which followed on the 21st of March 1990.

Following the repeal of a number of laws dealing with land, Schlettwein stressed that there is no burden on the state to consult the Rehoboth Baster Gemeente in the manner envisaged by opposition member Jan Van Wyk, saying the motive is meant to mislead the nation. "The ownership or control of the property at independence did not vest in the Government of Namibia in order to hold the property on behalf of the Rehoboth Baster Gemeente but because it was the Government of Namibia entrusted with the duty to administer the country for the good of its citizens."

He pointed out that the Namibian Constitution, to which the Baster Community fully subscribed, transferred the property of the Government of Rehoboth to the newly constituted Government of Namibia, with the aim of unifying the nation, previously divided under the system of apartheid, and getting rid of the fragmented self-government system.

As a result, Schlettwein stated his ministry's commitment to a transparent, fair, and equitable land reform process guided by policy and legal framework.