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Southern Profile30 June 2016 2S

Situated on a rocky shore bordering a harsh desert environment, Lüderitz is one of Namibia’s truly unique

destinations. And the town’s economic history is just as tumultuous as its coastline. Colourful early 20th century German art nouveau buildings, dusty alleyways, and the charming fishing harbour evoke feelings of nostalgia. The surroundings are characterised by large stretches of undulating rocky landscapes, unspoiled beaches, rare succulent flora, exclusive animal species and remnants of a rush for diamonds that officially put the area on the world map.

Today, Lüderitz is especially famous for its diamond ghost town Kolmanskop but also for its delicious seafood, including rock lobster (aka crayfish), oysters, abalone, and various types of fish, all celebrated at the annual Lüderitz Crayfish Festival. The government-funded multi-million dollar Waterfront complex overlooking the picturesque Lüderitz harbour and the

eagerly anticipated Maritime Museum/NUST campus complex (2017/18), are additional attractions. When completed, the Maritime Museum will be Africa’s largest maritime museum and will communicate Namibia’s rich and diversified marine ecological system as well as many historical vessels and nautical equipment. The NUST satellite campus will offer various courses and is a much needed higher-educational facility for Namibia’s south. The complex will boast restaurants, cafés, sports facilities and an outdoor arena.

The world’s top speed sailing event, the six week long Lüderitz Speed Challenge, is the only sporting event in Namibia that has consistently appeared in the Guinness World Book of Records with no less than 95 national and 15 world speed sailing records to date. At the 2015 event, our very own Matthias Rottcher broke the mythical 50 knots/93kph barrier and set a new and astonishingly fast Namibia Windsurfing

Speed Record. Matthias is currently the 10th fastest windsurfer on our planet!

According to the well-known international Lonely Planet Guide Book (2013 edition), Lüderitz was placed 6 out of 12 top destinations or attractions to visit in Botswana and Namibia.

Interestingly and perhaps not surprisingly, the authors nominated Lüderitz as the most unique town. But what makes Lüderitz stand apart from many other Namibian towns, is not its wildness, originality and location, but its people. Known as Buchters, the community has a very close affinity with their small town.

Even during the dark days of apartheid, locals refused to adhere to the then segregation laws. They would communicate and mix as they do today as if that horrible repressive system never existed. And this is what sets Buchters apart. They have a tolerance and ease of communication for and with one another, which other parts of our troubled world only dream of.

Many Namibians have heard of Lüderitz but not many have visited. Why? Is it perhaps the distance to get there? Is it due to misconstrued and false perceptions that the wind always blows? I am not sure, but this beautiful, original and uncrowded part of Namibia has formed an everlasting impression on me and I for one, will definitely return.

There are many quality accommodation establishments in town serving a wide variety of needs from small B&Bs to one of Namibia’s leading four star hotels. Air Namibia flies to Lüderitz Airport on a regular basis.

Welcome To Lüderitz … the Diamond of Namibia!

BARRELS ... A Hearty Meal credit: Barrels

Barrels of atmosphere and buckets of flavour

When that persistent Lüderitz wind has blown all the energy out of you, you seek shelter and hospitality in the cosy warmth

of Barrels. The hosts are welcoming and the smells from the kitchen promising as we settled down at the large scrubbed wood table, not dissimilar to one you’d find in an old country farmhouse.

Barrels are keeping it simple and doing it well. Their menu is small, but homemade with love. They boast that their Eisbein is the ‘best in the world’ and if their crayfish was anything to go on I can well believe it. The atmosphere in the pub and restaurant is laid-back and familiar and the mix of clientele made it clear that everyone feels at home there. The family-run establishment weaves its sense of family into the food, the décor, the music and the welcome!

Famished or just peckish, budgeting or being bold, there is something to suit most desires. Whether you want a simple pizza or a mound of seafood, you’ll be welcomed and made to feel at home by the friendly staff, the subtle lighting and the buzzing atmosphere.

The crackling fire warms the room and on it there may even be a bubbling potjie. The restaurant also has a buffet option with a spread of roasted meats, succulent chicken, delicious sides, mounds of salads and warming soups.

I might just take a minute to talk about that crayfish. That delicate, buttery perfectly cooked and generously portioned crayfish! The diners at the neighbouring table had just devoured a plate of their own and let me know when mine arrived that I was in for a treat. How right they were! The ten-hour drive from the capital was made well worthwhile by that glorious crayfish.

At least twice a week Barrels has live music to add to the merriment, and as most other places in town die down, Barrels ramps up as the evening draws in. Tourists are delighted and locals are at ease. Contentment fills the air and beers are poured and meals are devoured.

Barrels is owned by Monica, Manfred and Richard Kratz. They also own the Kratzplatz accommodation, which is situated next door. Entering the gates of Kratzplatz you no longer feel like you are on the edge of a harsh desert. The lush garden is alive with bright flowers and teeming with animal life. The rooms are spacious and unique, each with distinct features. Monica has a real eye for detail and the entire establishment reflects the energy and care that has been put into the business.

The sunny breakfast room is decorated with pieces of historical interest and delicate touches. The welcome is genuine and the setting idyllic. Whether visiting for business or pleasure, you couldn’t pick a better base than Kratzplatz and a better plate than one eaten at Barrels.

CROWD ... The famous Lüderitz Crayfish festival in full tilt.

ThE jEWEL Of ThE SOuTh ... Lüderitz bay from the sea.

P.O. Box 504, Lüderitz, Namibia, Industrial Rd 796Fax: 0 88 617 145, Cell: 081 260 2264

E-mail: dewaalbodyworks@gmail.com

Spray Painting • Panel Beating • Air BrushPrefessional service delivered fast.

C/O Berg & Nachtigal street, Lüderitz, Namibia

Tel/Fax: +264 (0) 63 202 458E-mail: kratzmr@iway.na

BARRELSPub & Restaurant

Good Food. Good Friends. Good Company

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The Namibia Training Authority is preparing to stage an inaugural National Skills Competition

(NSC) for the Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector in Namibia from 14 – 17 September 2016 at Ramatex in Windhoek. This competition will see skilled young Namibians from various training providers and industries showcasing their technical skills through a skills competition at national level for the first time. The competition will stage 10 different skills areas and has just finalised a pre-selection competition which was open to all public and private training institutions, industry participants, private candidates and also to members of the uniformed forces and correctional services. The event targets more young Namibians to take up technical and vocational career paths and to select Namibia’s participants for the next WorldSkills Competition in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates in 2017.

a) WorldSkills International (WSI)

WorldSkills International is a non-political organisation with the primary objective to promote skills excellence through staging a biannual international skills competition and establishing networking and sharing platforms for member organisations to learn from and with each other. WSI runs a biannual skills competition in which competitors from all member countries are eligible to take part. To date, 75 countries are members of WorldSkills International. Namibia became an associate member in 2011 and full member in 2015. In total, Africa has a representation of 6 countries at the WorldSkills International: Egypt, Morocco, Namibia, South Africa, Tunisia and ZambiaApart from its skills competition, WorldSkills International plays other critical roles with respect to promoting skills and career opportunities for skilled youth and champions; working together with educators, policy makers, industry, and other organisations to redefine the value and improve the attractiveness of skills, creating networking opportunities for members to learn and share experiences as well as contributing to TVET policy development worldwide.

b) WorldSkills Namibia

WorldSkills Namibia is the national hub for skills excellence and development. Through international cooperation and development between industry, government, organisations, and institutions, we promote the benefits of and need for skilled professionals through grass-roots community projects, skills competitions, and knowledge exchange. We show how important skills education and training is for the youth, industries and society by challenging young Namibian professionals to become the best in the skill of their choice.WorldSkills Namibia is the collective voice for skills excellence and development in vocational, technological and service oriented careers in Namibia. It advocates the youth, educators and industries to help prepare the workforce and talent of today for the jobs of the future.WorldSkills Namibia prepares to stage an inaugural National Skills Competition (NSC) for the Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector in Namibia from 14 - 17 September 2016 at Ramatex in Windhoek.

The event has two main components:1. A National Skills Competition, which

is to serve as a platform from which to select Namibia’s competitors to represent the country at the next WorldSkills International (WSI) competition; and

2. An exposition, in which credible and accredited local and international technical and vocational courses are offered to young Namibians, wishing to embark on career paths within the vocational Education and Training (VET) sector.

c) The main objectives of the National Skills Competition and Expo

• To change the negative perception about vocational skills in Namibia

• Give young Namibians an opportunity to compete and showcase their skills at national, regional and international level

• Uplift the standards of training and subsequently the skills level of the

local economy• Give trainers and other experts in the

local training fraternity and industry an opportunity to benchmark their standards and skills with best practices in the World

• Allow Namibia an opportunity to use standards and other training materials developed by WorldSkills International or member countries

• Create a platform for networking and partnership with other members, international organisations and industrial bodies in areas relevant to the transformation of TVET in Namibia.

Expo The exposition brings together under a single umbrella, credible public and private TVET providers, corporate entities and other industry stakeholders to partner in the promotion of technical and vocational careers.Invitations are extended to schools, to allow their technically-inclined learners to attend and enjoy access to information about technical and vocational career options. All VET institutions currently registered with the NTA and accredited by our sister organisation, the Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA), are encouraged to participate and introduce their course offerings and training services to visitors. Industry role players who rely heavily on technical and vocational skills to come on board and encourage them to focus on interactive onsite simulation activities and offer demonstrations to visitors on what they do, how they do it and why they do it.

‘Developed economies were not built by PhD holders, but by craftsmen & artisans’

d) What a Skills competition entails and how it works

A skills competition is an exciting platform where skilled, mainly young Namibians would come together and showcase their skills by competing against one another. Test projects are set up and all competitors are given the same conditions in terms of time, information, materials and equipment and there are experts/judges that supervise the proceedings of the competition, make proper records of all aspects as observed and decide on winners in line with

competition rules, guidelines and marking criteria. We have clear rules and guidelines to ensure fairness of competition results and any observed issues of dishonesty will be dealt with, within the provisions of such rules and can lead to actions such as the deduction of marks or disqualification of competitors and/or experts from the envisaged or future competitions depending on the severity and merit of each case.

e) Occupational areas covered in this year’s competition and plans to grow the number of occupational areas in future editions of the event

This year’s competition will feature 10 occupational areas and the plan is to gradually increase the number for future competitions. The occupational areas for this year’s competition are:• Automotive Technology• Bricklaying• Carpentry• Cooking• Electrical Installation• Joinery• Plumbing and Heating• Refrigeration and Air Conditioning• Wall and Floor Tiling • Welding

f) Partners in the organisation of this event

The event is supported by Unesco through the Bear Project that was introduced in 5 different countries in SADC. Component 4 of the Bear Project was aimed at assisting Namibia to set up an organisational framework to conduct a national skills competition biannually and also to participate in the WorldSkills Competition. Apart from the financial support

that Unesco provided to the project, technical assistance is also provided whereby Unesco partnered with Gifts/HRDKorea to assist Namibia with technical expertise to set up the structures and the competition as well as to expose opportunities available through observing national skills competitions from Korea.Locally, we have partnered with the Namibia Career Exposition (NCE) to provide event management services. NCE also partnered with the NTA in 2014 to stage a national career fair that attracted many students to come and learn more about career opportunities in the VET sector. The Expo attracted a good number of exhibitors from both public and private training institutions to showcase their programmes.

g) how Namibia will identify participants for the WorldSkills Competition in Abu Dhabi, next year

The National Skills Competition was preceded by a series of regional selection competitions at vaious training institutions from 27 to 28 May 2016 where competitors that will participate at the National Skills Competition were selected.The selection competitions were open to public, private and industry institutions and were extended to the NDF, Correctional Services and other uniformed training institutions as the objective is to promote skills in Namibia irrespective of where such were learned.Winners in each category, subject to meeting WorldSkills International age requirements will represent Namibia at the 2017 WorldSkills Competition in Abu Dhabi. Should a winner in a given category not meet age requirements, the best of competitors meeting the age requirement in that skills category will be chosen. Worldskills Namibia together with its local and international partners will employ an intensive training programme to prepare Namibian competitors for the Worldskills competition.For futher questions please contact the WorldSkills Namibia Secretariat at 061 - 207 8300.Email: worldskillsnamibia@nta.com.na

Namibia prepares to stage its First Ever National Skills Competition and Expo from 14 -17 Sept 2016

Be part of history and attend Namibia’s first ever National Skills competition and expo,

14 – 17 September 2016 at Ramatex

Southern Profile30 June 2016 4S

Enter any shop, any restaurant, any dock or bank at Lüderitz and you’ll spot

the familiar badge of Wynbach Security. The small family security business has boomed and the ‘family’ now includes 120 employees dotted across the town. The Wynbach name has come to command great respect in the area.

Wynbach have no contractors and don’t outsource. They believe in doing it all themselves. They train up their own staff, and arrange their schedules and locations across the town. They are all linked and closely monitored by the support network based in the offices. As well as their ground staff, Wynbach also operate over 140 alarm systems in the town, and in all their years of operations have only have 4 break-ins.

This success is partly due to their use of mobile transmitters for their alarm reporting. Prior to this,

companies made use of telephone or radio infrastructure, which is less reliable and less rapid. With mobile technology, Wynbach security can be at the scene of an alarm call in a matter of minutes.

They are certainly having a great impact. The town of Lüderitz feels safe and welcoming. After meeting with owner Wynand Breytenbach and his team, you feel the dedication of the company and when walking around the town, feel comforted by the number of friendly faces in Wynbach Security uniforms. The sense of community is strong in the small town and good companies get loyal customers.

Breytenbach believes in doing things properly. He wants to give job opportunities to young people, and feels that with good training, and clear guidelines it is easy for them to do well and develop. “Rules are important. Especially in

this job, it’s important to have no grey areas,” he says.

“I really take my hat off to my guys” says Breytenbach proudly. “They work hard and do long shifts, but we can say that we are proud, our guards earn a good salary, especially compared to South Africa or even Namibia a few years ago.” The Security Association of Namibia, which Wynbach Security becomes part off, regulates the security industry to avoid exploitation and mistreatment.

There is a feeling of real camaraderie in the Wynbach offices. All the management staff have been working there for over ten years, and some for as long as 15 to 19 years. Owners Mr and Mrs Breytenbach are proud of their company’s growth and incredibly grateful and humbled by the hard work that their team has put in. In this company, it shows.

The old power station, built in 1911 was for many years the heart of Lüderitz, providing electricity and desalinated water to the town

and the surrounding mines. Today, after years of sitting in ruin, Waterfront developers are underway to make this historic building the beating heart of town life once more.

The Lüderitz Waterfront Development Company(LWDC) is on a well-funded mission to revamp the image and infrastructure of Lüderitz while retaining and celebrating the town’s history and heritage.

The LWDC’s vision is to transform the town into a tourism, student and commerce hot spot while maintaining its waterfront prominence. They intend to expand, renovate, rejuvenate and create a transformative waterfront experience that gives Lüderitz a new image and a chance to become an attractive commercial centre in southern Namibia.

The LWDC is a public enterprise that operates under the ministry of finance. Phase One of the project started trading in 2002 with the current waterfront public square, jetty, and shop/restaurant space. The space has so far created about 95 permanent jobs, 85% of which are filled by women in various businesses. While LWDC has not directly created these jobs, it has provided a centre of business and tourism that has in turn helped generate permanent jobs and income for the town’s economy.

The second phase of the waterfront is centred in the old power station as the flagship project. While the façade of the heritage building is being kept intact, the internal space is getting a glamorous and multi-purpose makeover. The vast space offers huge promise. Once completed, it will house the first ever fully fledged satellite campus for the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), which is set to open its doors in 2018.

It will also be home to a number of curios, cafes and restaurants, a gym with, a 350-seat auditorium/ cinema, indoor heated swimming pool

Urban design catalysing town growth at Lüderitz

READy fOR ACTION ... The Wynbach staff report for duty.Credit: Wynand Breytenbach

Providing a community with security

Lüderitz Waterfront Development Company CEO Fluksman

Samuehl.

passionate about the development and a proponent of transforming and diversifying the town's economy, Fluksman Samuehl, takes the urban design of the project and the town’s infrastructure plan very seriously. He says, “we are creating an attractive public space and it is important to take comfort and visuals into account.” With the old power station price tag coming to N$280 million, it is important the locals feel the money is well spent.

Samuehl is convinced that the developments he and his team are working on will be transformative. The opening of the NUST campus will bring flocks of students into the town and may change its socio-economic landscape , and will impact the demand for accommodation, the shopping experience, transport, the town's nightlife and other activities. The developments will also attract domestic and international tourists, who will be a catalyst for downstream economic activities,” says Samuehl

Samuehl is aware that these changes will not happen overnight as there are hard challenges to overcome. “There will be a need for a lot of marketing to introduce the emerging new Lüderitz, not just in Namibia but beyond,” he states. Air Namibia, which currently flies to and from Lüderitz four times per week, will be asked to increase their flight numbers to provide daily routes. This will make the town more accessible for business people.

For Samuehl and the LWDC, the planning doesn’t stop with Phase 2. They intend to develop the majority of the town's central coastal belt with plans for luxury Waterfront penthouses, apartment blocks and an upmarket hotel supported by conferencing facilities. Student accommodation, a 22 room Mediclinic hospital and a retirement village, with sea views are also ideas for the medium-term future.

The scale of the project is hard to visualise, but a visit to the work-in-progress old power station gives you a taste of the thought and passion that has gone into this monumental development. Life in Lüderitz looks set for a shake-up!

and a prestigious maritime museum. Out of the infamous Lüderitz wind, it will also be home to indoor sports facilities, including volleyball, netball and basketball courts. The outdoor promenade will house further eateries and sports facilities, a museum theme park as well as play areas for children.

Collections for the maritime museum, a first of its type for Namibia, are already underway. Artifacts and exhibits are being collected from across the globe to contribute to the three main themes of the museum. These will be ‘Fishing at Sea’, ‘Mining at Sea’ and ‘Trading at Sea’, both historically and today. Professional curators will be hired to manage and run the maritime museum.

The CEO of the Lüderitz waterfront who is very

MuSEuM ... Collections have started for the maritime museum.

There will be a need for a lot of marketing to introduce the emerging new Lüderitz, not just in

Namibia but beyond.

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Urban design catalysing town growth at Lüderitzpassionate about the development and a proponent of transforming and diversifying the town's economy, Fluksman Samuehl, takes the urban design of the project and the town’s infrastructure plan very seriously. He says, “we are creating an attractive public space and it is important to take comfort and visuals into account.” With the old power station price tag coming to N$280 million, it is important the locals feel the money is well spent.

Samuehl is convinced that the developments he and his team are working on will be transformative. The opening of the NUST campus will bring flocks of students into the town and may change its socio-economic landscape , and will impact the demand for accommodation, the shopping experience, transport, the town's nightlife and other activities. The developments will also attract domestic and international tourists, who will be a catalyst for downstream economic activities,” says Samuehl

Samuehl is aware that these changes will not happen overnight as there are hard challenges to overcome. “There will be a need for a lot of marketing to introduce the emerging new Lüderitz, not just in Namibia but beyond,” he states. Air Namibia, which currently flies to and from Lüderitz four times per week, will be asked to increase their flight numbers to provide daily routes. This will make the town more accessible for business people.

For Samuehl and the LWDC, the planning doesn’t stop with Phase 2. They intend to develop the majority of the town's central coastal belt with plans for luxury Waterfront penthouses, apartment blocks and an upmarket hotel supported by conferencing facilities. Student accommodation, a 22 room Mediclinic hospital and a retirement village, with sea views are also ideas for the medium-term future.

The scale of the project is hard to visualise, but a visit to the work-in-progress old power station gives you a taste of the thought and passion that has gone into this monumental development. Life in Lüderitz looks set for a shake-up!

LÜDERITZ WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT

Lüderitz Waterfront Development Company (Pty) LtdPO Box 78, Lüderitz, Namibia, Tel: +264 63 202702, Fax: +264 63 202030, Email: mary@luderitzwaterfront.com.naNOTE:

THIS DRAWING IS PROPERTY OF BOB MOULD ARCHITECTS AND COPYRIGHT ISRESERVED BY THEM AND THE DRAWING IS ISSUED ON THE CONDITION THAT IT ISNOT COPIED, REPRODUCED, RETAINED OR DISCLOSED TO ANY UNAUTHORISEDPERSON, EITHER WHOLLY OR IN PART WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OFBOB MOULD ARCHITECTS.

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NOTE:THIS DRAWING IS PROPERTY OF BOB MOULD ARCHITECTS AND COPYRIGHT ISRESERVED BY THEM AND THE DRAWING IS ISSUED ON THE CONDITION THAT IT ISNOT COPIED, REPRODUCED, RETAINED OR DISCLOSED TO ANY UNAUTHORISEDPERSON, EITHER WHOLLY OR IN PART WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OFBOB MOULD ARCHITECTS.

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The second phase of the Waterfront focuses on the university satellite campus ( NUST), a modern maritime museum, indoor and outdoor sport and recreational facilities. Our company is working towards the creation of special place that welcome all people to live, work,

A few luxury waterfront apartments are remaining for sale,book now by contacting

mary@luderitzwaterfront.com.na

and enjoy leisure in the most beautiful spaces and architecture that connect the town of a Luderitz to the sea, protecting our heritage for future generations. Looking for the perfect commercial property to rent? We offer space for shops, offices and residential units

Southern Profile30 June 2016 6S

economic slow-downs. It also plans to use industrial engineer expertise to administer production on their vessels to ensure greater efficiency both on and offshore.

The industrial engineers, two female graduates – one from NUST and one from Cape Peninsular Univeristy of Technology – will be trained for about 6 months in partnership with a Seaflower client in South Africa. After this training,

they will apply the knowledge to develop best practices for Seaflower.

With these developments, Seaflower is proud of its inward-looking sales plan. While profits largely come from overseas markets, the company wants to put as much fish into the local market as possible. Part of this initiative includes making 150 tonnes of fish available to local wholesalers, thereby keeping profits in Namibia.

Seaflower is back in full production and on a mission to create a company presence,

by making fish a popular choice for Namibians.

Mike Nghipunya, acting CEO says “we want to make seafood an accessible product for Namibians”. The company had a significant presence at the Ongwediva trade fair as part of its “taking lobster to the people” initiative. As Nghipunya sees it, the Namibian people should also have access to this prime Namibian resource.

Part of Seaflower’s mission is to make fish competitive against meat. As a nation of meat lovers this could come as a challenge, but Nghipunya is certain that with the help of savvy marketing fish can become a realistic alternative for the Namibian population, especially in the North. He also believes this to be true of other seafood like oysters and mussels. We want to get the nation thinking of “beer and fish” as a combination as likely as “beer and meat” says Nghipunya. Seaflower

has a strategy for promoting local fish consumption over the next five years. It is a plentiful and healthy option.

Closer to home, Seaflower are pushing lobster consumption by supporting the famous Lüderitz Crayfish Festival, by providing financial assistance to the event organisers as well as providing the rock lobsters (also known as crayfish) to the vendors. The five-day festival brings flocks of international and domestic tourists into the town and provides a huge boost for small and medium businesses. It also provides an exhibition platform for corporates and promotes the town as a tourist destination.

Seaflower sees its current success as a moral boost for the town of Lüderitz and for its workers. Being the backbone of the town is a matter of pride for the Seaflower employees, says Nghipunya.

In addition to its five year strategic plan for encouraging fish consumption, Seaflower has been working on the company’s

overall five year plan. The company is back in action, processing its entire 2014-2015 quota, but now, Nghipunya says, they need to “sail.” Seaflower plans to move away from outsourcing its quota in favour of maximising the catch through value addition.

The company has invested in the services of industrial engineers, and seeks to streamline and cuts its losses in production. Industrial engineers are specialised in optimising processes to get best-output and best value for money. This strategy will be used in Seaflower’s factories and to highlight ‘weak spots’, for example aging or out of date machinery, which could be adding time and cost to fish processing.

Seaflower hopes to expand its product development to create retail ready products and a factory that can easily be reconfigured to process any product and any size. Different markets have differing product preferences and this would allow the company to rapidly respond to demand and weather regional

Lüderitz Nest Hotel in southern Namibia enjoys the most spectacular and unique ‘on the

rocks and sea’ location with its own private tidal beach and walk-on jetty. This fabulous 73 room four-star hotel was launched in 1998 by Founding President Sam Nujoma and since then has hosted many dignitaries and guests from Namibia and around the world.

In May 2016, the hotel launched eight brand new deluxe twin and double rooms at a substantial investment. Ulf Grünewald, GM and winner of the Namibian Hotelier of the Year 2012 award, says “our multiple award winning hotel places enormous importance on what our guests and patrons say about our hotel and where possible and feasible, we act upon all feedback. As a direct result of ongoing feedback, we took the decision to launch 8 brand new deluxe contemporary rooms last month. Thus far feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.”

The hotel embarked on a major refurbishment campaign since 2012 and launched the Crayfish Bar and Lounge (2013), a 130 square metre facility, with outside terraces and enjoying the most spectacular views of the Atlantic coast, Lüderitz peninsula, the iconic Felsenkirche and the huge coastal dunes of the Namib Desert to the north.

The hotel boasts a wonderful seafood menu and the famous delicious Lüderitz oysters, reputed by many to be the best in the world, are offered with fine South African sparkling wines. Another favourite on the menu is the Lüderitz lobster platter – not to be missed.

For those seeking a wedding and honeymoon with a difference, the hotel offers custom-made packages and an ultra-modern event centre for their reception. The nearby and historic Felsenkirche (1912) can be made available for the actual wedding ceremony – a perfect combination of old and new.

But what do guests actually have to say about the hotel? We accessed Trip Adviser, the world's leading traveller feedback site, and we chose two random reviews for both the Lüderitz Nest Hotel

and for Lüderitz itself: “Good option for Lüderitz and those

visiting Kolmanskop” (2 JUNE 2016) - This seaside hotel offers all the comforts and conveniences one could expect at a modern upper-tier hotel. The rooms, common areas and ground are very clean. The rooms are equipped with just about everything you will need for your stay. Storage, TV, coffee maker, comfortable beds, powerful shower, room safe, etc. The food in the restaurant is buffet style for breakfast and dinner. A la carte was available for lunch. The food is generally well prepared and several items are available at each station. Typical offerings of eggs, yogurt, fruit, cheese, etc. were on display for breakfast and for dinner. The stations included seafood, meat, salads and mixed appetizers among others.

“Most enjoyable stay” (1 June 2016) Lüderitz is a very nice little town in a beautiful country. We were part of a touring group from South Africa whose stay at this hotel had been organised by the tour operator. What an absolutely delightful surprise when we entered our room. A breathtaking view and a lovely clean room with a magnificent view of the sea and with a very nice bathroom – no bath but that did not bother us in the least as the shower was excellent. We only stayed the one night (a Saturday) and were enchanted to see that a wedding was taking place on the lawn very close to our room. The food was great at both dinner and breakfast. And the beer was cold! The only downside was that with the wedding on, the service in the bar was a bit slow as I think the staff were a bit stretched with the additional workload. But that really didn't get us down. I was very sorry when we had to leave the next morning after a most delightful stay with very friendly and attentive staff. We are looking at going back again on our own (not in a tour group) but unfortunately the airfare from South Africa to Lüderitz is quite costly. But we will work hard at it as we found the Nest to be worth many more visits. We strongly recommend this hotel to persons visiting Lüderitz.

www.nesthotel.com

fACTORy ... (Above) The processing factories will be remodeled to increase efficiency. vESSEL ... (Left) Back at full production, seaflower vessels are hard at work.

Onwards and upwards for Seaflower

Namibia’s top ‘on-sea’ hotel2015 HAN Excellence Award Winner

Fine food in a fantastic setting. Credit: Nest Hotel

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they will apply the knowledge to develop best practices for Seaflower.

With these developments, Seaflower is proud of its inward-looking sales plan. While profits largely come from overseas markets, the company wants to put as much fish into the local market as possible. Part of this initiative includes making 150 tonnes of fish available to local wholesalers, thereby keeping profits in Namibia.

fACTORy ... (Above) The processing factories will be remodeled to increase efficiency. vESSEL ... (Left) Back at full production, seaflower vessels are hard at work.

National Fishing Corporation of Namibia CLINIC

SEAFLOWER GROUP OF COMPANIESIndustry Road. P. O. Box 15, Lüderitz, Namibia Tel: +264 63 208 100, Fax: +264 63 202 414

This has impact the company positively in cases such as:

• Normalsickleavehasreduced• Absenteeismhavereducedbecausetheinjuredemployeeswithminorcasesaretreatedattheclinicandreturntowork

immediatelyunlikeinthepastwherebytheemployeespentalmostthewholedayatthehospital.• ThecompanyisnothiringoutsideNurseformedicalexaminationsanymore.• Chronicmedicationse.gHypertensionfortheemployeesisavailable,noneedtogotoStateHospital.• Injuriesondutyminorcasesaretreatedhere–thishasreduceddoctorsconsultationfeesaswellasmedicationsfromthe

Pharmacy• Counselingsessionsisalsoconductedmoreespeciallytothesupportgroupmembers(Oukumwe)

Seaflower Clinic becameoperational on 8th February 2016

Southern Profile30 June 2016 8S

If you are travelling south you will come across The Maritz Country Lodge just outside Keetmanshoop. The lodge opened its door in 2010 and was formerly called “Lafenis Game Lodge & Restcamp”

The Lodge is 3 km outside Keetmanshoop on the B1 route to South Africa and offers you a rest stop after a long day on the road or at work.

Here guests can cool off in the large pool, enjoy a delicious meal and cool and refreshing drinks in the new bar. Stretch out in the new spacious and comfortable rooms. The Maritz family who lives on the same property, have for the past six years put a lot of passion, energy and money into renovating the former Lafenis Game Lodge & Restcamp. Mr Willem and Mrs Antoinette Maritz have been building and decorating to give the lodge a facelift.

The family’s Engen 1-Stop and Wimpy garage opened in 2006 and now both businesses have come together. The family wanted to develop a convenient one-stop set up where clients can get fuel, food and lodging in one location. The Maritz Country Lodge is set behind the engen garage and streches away from the road.

Maritz now welcome many foreign guests and tour groups as they are centrally situated between the Fish River Canyons and Quiver Tree Forest. Mr. Willem Maritz also warmly welcomes business and corporate clients as well as leisure travellers.

Recent developments at the lodge include the construction of six new luxury suites that will replace the older ‘prefab’ cottages. All old standard rooms will be removed and eventually replaced by the new look rooms. Another two new rooms are planned for the coming year. At the moment, Maritz Country Lodge has 21 rooms, each equipped with air conditioning and TVs with limited DSTV channels. There is also a self catering option available for those who like to prepare their own food and enjoys privacy.

There are campsites with upgraded ablutions available. The owners are planning to build a giant lapa for special occasions such as weddings, year end functions, birthday parties and business functions with the latest and most modern equipment.

One stop convenience atMaritz Country Lodge

P.O. Box 388, Keetmanshoop, Namibia, Tel: +264 63 224 316, Fax: +264 63 224 309E-mail: maritzlodge@iway.na, E-mail: khp1stop@iway.na

Website: www.maritzcountrylodge.com.na

FREE WIFI FOR ALL GUESTS

9Southern Profile 30 June 2016

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Haus Henry

Selling his farm near Mariental, Henry Meintjies moved to Lüderitz to follow his dream of having his own guesthouse. Henry bought a big old house

in town and worked hard to turn the house into a friendly accommodation establishment. The guesthouse has both fully and semi-self catering rooms, DSTV, fridges, WIFI and the choice of single, double or family rooms offered at very competitive prices. They also serve breakfast on request. The guesthouse also has a bar and takeaway for your convenience. Henry is friendly and welcoming and says, “Once people stay, they keep coming back!”

Fresh from its recent makeover, the Bird's Nest Guesthouse at Keetmanshoop offers a warm

welcome in a peaceful setting. The large, airy rooms have all been recently renovated and are finished with thoughtful touches, attractive soft furnishings and up- to-date décor.

The bathrooms are large, bright and have sparkling new fittings. Large baths, spacious showers and fluffy towels await you.

Owner of Bird’s Nest Guesthouse, and nearby sister business Birds Mansions Hotel is local businesswoman Riana Jacobs. Jacobs grew up on a farm near Hochfeld but moved to Keetmanshoop in 1990, after obtaining a home economics degree from the University of Stellenbosch. Jacobs says this degree has been incredibly useful for her role in hospitality as it covered a very “broad spectrum.”

Jacobs started the Birds Nest Guest House in 1996 and the Birds Mansions Hotel in 2000. In 2001 she was nominated as Namibian Business Woman of the Year, and was one of the five finalists. In 2010 she was businessperson of the Namibian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the South and in 2015 was Business Person of the year for Keetmasnshoop. In 2013 the hotel was awarded Business of the Year for the hospitality industry.

Jacobs has a lot of gratitude to the

team around her and says that they have contributed to her success. She trains the staff herself and believes that it is very important to have a reliable team, especially as it is also important to Jacobs to be an active mother and wife. As well as training her own staff, she has also trained students all over the country and has hosted international hospitality interns at her Keetmanshoop hotel.

The passion that Jacobs has for hospitality can be felt in both of her establishments. The hotel is full of thoughtful touches that only someone with a real passion for her work would implement. The guesthouse’s new look is straight out of a lifestyle magazine with well-chosen fabrics and furniture and the huge double beds make you want to dive in and stay put.

Jacobs says that, while she is not a chef, she loves to cook and the homemade, delicious food served at the hotel is one of the reasons that people come to stay. With 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, she is an expert offering a home away from home for travellers while at the same time providing a product that has good value for money.

If you’re in the area, the natural choice is reward your tired body with a comfortable room, a friendly welcome and a hearty meal at the Bird's Nest Guest House, or Bird's Mansions Hotel.

The town of Keetmanshoop, proud of its heritage, last month unveiled a statue

in Central Park of its founder, kaptein Hendrik Tseib. Tseib and his Nama tribe settled in the area, as they found a spring that provided them with sweet water.

Stories of the area and its history can be found at the Keetmanshoop museum, which hosts an exhibition on Nama history and culture and was sponsored by the Finnish embassy.

The town's pride continues to grow as it firmly establishes itself as the centre of the South. Numerous developments are taking place at and around Keetmanshoop and the municipality is involved in various expansions and investments.

As elsewhere, there is a demand at Keetmanshoop for low-cost housing. The town was nominated for the mass housing project and 240 erven had been set aside for this purpose. Sixty-five of these

houses are ready for handover with work to commence on the remaining ones within the next few weeks.

The municipality is in the process of servicing land and extending the current townships in an attempt to accommodate the influx of people to the town. Unfortunately, registering townships is not a speedy process, but with forward planning, the CEO, Desmond Basson, hopes to establish long-term solutions to ease future pressure.

As the town grows and flourishes, so does the demand for large business premises, and with this in mind, the town plans to expand its industrial park. New grave sites for the town are also allocated as the existing ones are either at or close to capacity.

In the spirit of decentralisation, some large government projects are planned for Keetmanshoop over the coming years. A government office park and

News from the Southern Hub Keetmanshoop still struggles with unemployment. There is a sizeable reliance on agricultural and mining jobs. Basson explains that there is a cycle of unemployment and lack of investment in the town, which leads to unpaid municipal debts. This in turns puts the municipality at strain as they lack the funds for capital projects.

One such area in need of investment that Basson highlighted, is the local road infrastructure. Most of the roads in the area are still gravel, and are in need of maintenance and upgrading. The municipality has set aside N$6 million per annum for road works, but the cost of each project will determine how far these funds can be stretched.

According to municipality spokesperson Dawn Kruger, after non-payment of bills, one of the biggest challenges facing the town is illegal dumping. The town established a new dumpsite in an attempt to tackle this issue, but dumping remains a problem.

On a positive note, Keetmanshoop municipality is in the happy position of having sound water security, especially during the current drought, and work on the nearby Neckatal Dam is going well. The dam project is bringing work to the region and, once complete, there is potential for new industries, through recreation and irrigation, to flourish around the dam.

Basson is hopeful that once the multiple on-the-go projects have been established, the town’s financial situation will improve. DONE ... Low cost housing ready for handover at Keetmanshoop.

presidential office is being constructed, as is a southern campus for the University of Namibia. The municipality has approved erven next to the planned Unam campus for the Namibia Training Authority, creating a tertiary hub in the South.

Even with all these exciting projects taking place,

Keetmanshoop CEO Desmond Basson

REvAMPED ... Rooms at Birds Nest have a stylish makeover.

Hospitality from the experts

Haus HenryGuesthouse

Contacts: Cell: 081 499 2288, Cell: 081 255 0271, Tel: 063 204 198, Fax:063 203 749, Email: hjm@iway.na

Physical address: Erf 349 Burenkamp Lüderitz

Postal address: P.O. BOX 1105 Luderitz

S 26o39.37’EO 15o09.473’

Haus HenryGuesthouse

Contact details:Keetmanshoop Municipality, Private Bag 2125, Tel: 063 221 212, Fax: 063 223 818

Statue ofCaptain Hendrik Tseib

Captain Hendrik Tseib and his followers settled in

the area, as they found a spring that provided them

with drinking water.

Southern Profile30 June 2016 10S

Our motto of ONCE DONE, PERFECTLY DONE gives a

clear indication of the quality of work we strive to offer.

In 1994, during a drought, Kiewiet de Villiers, Founder of

HFJ, decided to look for a way to supplement his income from farming. He considered his options, and being a talented mechanic, he decided that was the way to go. He bought a grader and started grading roads for local farmers. He then invested in a bulldozer and started making farm dams.

It became clear that there was a demand for machinery hire, especially from the government and from large companies.

One day, in 1999, when the company was going through a period of financial difficulty, three strange men appeared on De Villiers’ farm, offering the opportunity to work with the NamDeb mine at Oranjemund. This was the

real turning point for HFJ and with a lot of hard work, the business has grown to be the largest earthmoving business in the south of Namibia. Today, HFJ gives permanent employment to over 100 people, and because it is a 100% Namibian company it is their policy to employ local people. The fleet is made up of 120 vehicles that are maintained by De Villiers' mechanics

in his state-of-the-art workshops.

HFJ has a 5-year contract to do maintenance on the gravel roads in the //Kharas region. This is done in collaboration with 4 SMEs to empower people to participate in the progress of the country. Fifteen graders are employed each month by the roads authority. Each grader is equipped with a satellite tracking unit to

The Birth and Life of HFJ Plant Hire

monitor the progress of the road upkeep.

HFJ rents out all machinery and operators required for earth-moving works. They are normally rented out on a ‘wet tariff’ in which the diesel is included, but can also be hired without fuel. Farmers lease machines for building roads, firebreaks and making dams. The company's machines are also being used in the construction of the Neckertal Dam and NamDeb mine at Oranjemund.

The staff are HFJs greatest assets. It is HFJs policy to invest surplus funds in its

staff. The best returns that one can get, is to invest in staff training. Investing in staff does not just improve work life but improves living conditions and social conditions too, De Villiers says.

At the end of 2015 HFJ completed the upgrade of the new road (DR 278) from Ai-Ais to Aussenkehr. Currently, the company is upgrading the DR 578 and are restoring surrounding roads that were affected by flooding. New contracts are also starting at Rosh Pinah and Orandjemund.

Life is busy at HFJ and this comes at a time when its new offices have just been completed, giving the business space to expand and branch out into more areas. All are welcome to pass by. The offices have impressive conferencing facilities which HFJ plans to rent out for functions and events. The conference room has state-of-the-art multimedia technology and there is a large social area complete with indoor braai facilities. The offices are situated at Keetmanshoop industrial park, due north of Camelthorn Joinery!

16 Pastorie Street,Keetmanshoop, NamibiaTel: +264 63 222 906, Fax: +264 63 222 261

Email: birdsmansions@iway.na

BIRD’S NESTGUEST HOUSE

www.birdsaccommodation.com

C&A PLANTCONSTRUCTION AND

MECHANICAL SERVICES

Industrial Road Area LüderitzP.O. Box 1300, Luderitz

Fax: 063 203627Email: diareef@iway.na

Cell: 081 129 2607,Cell: 081 227 3083

Landline: 063 203 636

11Southern Profile 30 June 2016

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In the winter months our immune systems take a knocking and we easily get run down and ill. Cases of

the cold, flu, asthma and other ailments related to the cold weather rocket.

Cases of winter colds and flu can be reduced by taking care of yourself through healthy eating and drinking plenty of fluids. It’s also important to stay warm and active. However, if you do get ill there are handy remedies on the market that can make the symptoms more bearable. With the huge selection of products on offer it is advised to chat to your pharmacist about what option is best for you.

Located at Rehoboth, Jere-Dean Pharmacy is always happy to help address winter bugs as well as a range of other illnesses and related requests. Pharmacist Andy Anderson runs a warm and welcoming business where the customer comes first.

The name Jere-Dean is a combination of the second names of Anderson’s sons, Gavin Jeremy and Alvin Dean. Anderson tells us “At Jere-Dean Pharmacy, we strive to deliver a service with the interest of our patients at heart. A prescription is scrutinised with the patient’s medical history in mind as well as the negative effects of poly-pharmacy.”

Anderson started his working life in Windhoek, as an intern, before relocating to Keetmanshoop to work in government service as a regional pharmacist. After sixteen years in that role, he moved to Rehoboth to open his own pharmacy which has been up and running for six years now.

Anderson adds, “Communication and interaction with our patients, their current health status as well as medical history are our point of departure. These aspects, which may sometimes be extended to the prescriber, ensure that the medication is received by the patient with a sense of security and peace of mind.”

Jere-Dean Pharmacy offers the unique service of being on standby after hours. “You call me in the middle of the night for an emergency and we respond promptly.” Tips for getting over a winter bug:• Stay warm: Being cold depresses the

immune system, so keep those layers close at hand to keep your immune system working well

• Wash your hands: When someone sneezes or coughs the germs can make their way into your body through sensitive areas like your mouth or eyes via your hands.

• Herbal Assistance: Echinacea, which can be bought from local pharmacies in liquid or tablet form, can help boost immune systems. (not recommended for people with TB or HIV–AIDS)

• Drink plenty: Keeping kidneys functioning well helps to quickly remove toxins from the body.

• Sleep: Your body regenerates while you sleep and lack of sleep makes us more susceptible to illness.

• Get pharmaceutical help: Nasal decongestant sprays and cold and flu tablets can make the illness more bearable! Speak to your pharmacist and ensure you get what is best for you and your medical history!

Funeral rituals have always been an important part of humanity in one form or

another. Rituals and celebration of life play an essential role in accepting death and celebrating the life that was. Rituals and ceremonies provide a structure to express strong emotions such as loss, grief and adoration in a safe and supportive environment.

A funeral is a public expression of our beliefs, our love and our grief. The ceremony also plays a role in providing some closure to those who have lost a loved one. Coming to terms with the finality of death proves a challenge for those left behind. According to grief counsellor Alan Wolfelt, “meaningful funerals can serve as wonderful points of departure for understanding death”.

Funerals provide an opportunity for people to grieve openly, or as Wolfelt puts it, “force us to concentrate on the fact of the death and our feelings”.

In a proud society where feelings are often suppressed, this is an important component in processing loss.

The intimacy of funerals also provides support networks and feelings of community. The life of the deceased is celebrated and stories and memories are shared. Through these we get a better

understanding of the person we lost, and an opportunity to see them through someone else’s eyes. “This teaches us about the dead person’s life apart from ours and allows us glimpses into that life that we may cherish forever” says Wolfelt.

Funerals also allow a support system to form around the loved ones left behind. A funeral is an open call for support, and by attending the ceremony, support is being offered.

Working behind the scenes at Dignity Funerals in Mariental, Retha Barnard is well aware of the sensitivities of her job, and goes out of her way to ensure that she and her team make the process as smooth and comforting as possible.

“Death is the hardest reality and there is nothing that anyone can do to change the fact that someone has lost a loved one. That is so final,” says Retha. “That fact cannot be changed but we try our best to guide and assist our clients with the planning of the funeral and to support them through as many as possible arrangements.”

She adds that “Through all the different services that we offer, we hope to bring some relief to our clients so that they have more time to process their loss in an early stage and while they still have the family around to support them so that they are stronger to cope alone after the

funeral and when most people have left.”

According to Barnard, it takes a very special kind of person to work with the remains of deceased people, in fact it is not an ordinary job, but a calling. “I am proud to say that we have a very special, reliable and dedicated team here at Dignity Funerals.”

She adds that “One problem is the training aspect, because there is no professional training available for this job in our country.” However, Dignity has been fortunate enough to receive staff training from a “highly qualified person with 55 years of experience in this field – Mr Coetzee, from South-Africa.” The retired 76 year-old trainer is a veteran of the business and even helped with the embalming of the late president Nelson Mandela. “It really was a privilege to have the opportunity to be present when he shared his knowledge. We are in a constant process of sharing our knowledge with new members of our team and improving our skills through experience.“

Dignity offers full funeral services from coffins and caskets to flowers, decorations, programmes, photos, gravestones and dealing with funeral policies and claims.

They also do cremations and embalming and can assist with grave digging on request.

The Birth and Life of HFJ Plant Hire

Life is busy at HFJ and this comes at a time when its new offices have just been completed, giving the business space to expand and branch out into more areas. All are welcome to pass by. The offices have impressive conferencing facilities which HFJ plans to rent out for functions and events. The conference room has state-of-the-art multimedia technology and there is a large social area complete with indoor braai facilities. The offices are situated at Keetmanshoop industrial park, due north of Camelthorn Joinery!

Service with a smile at Jere-Dean.

Jere-Dean Pharmacy

Rituals are important for dealing with loss of a loved one

ERF 427, Block A Rehoboth. We are opposite JTL Beukes Primary School.Tel: 062 522 330, Fax: 062 525 859, Email: jere-dean@iway.na

Our 3-way approach to your

HEALTH

Southern Profile30 June 2016 12S

Rehoboth citizens have taken matters into their own hands at Rehoboth with their self-driven

town-cleaning programme. A group of women from Block E decided to start litter removal when governor, Katrina Hanse-Himarwa, asked towns to clean up.

Starting with the litter heaps close to the Acacia Forest, the teams removed all the garbage and the Rehoboth Town Council flattened the land. The women involved were resolved to continue the good work. In the words of 78-year-old Katriena, "Let us all, in all the blocks take hands to make Rehoboth a good clean town. Where our children play there is refuse and snakes. Let us clean our town! We don’t do it for payment, or for food, we do it for the love of our town.”

Different stakeholders have shown an interest in helping. Rehoboth Town Council assisted with the removal of the garbage and with tools; a group from the from social housing in Block F initiated by the late Katriena de Koe and Ouma Dora, started to clean an empty plot adjacent to theirs; another group with Mona Ockhuizen started in Block A and

are cleaning their area on a regular basis and Elfriede //Garoës and her group of children also clean Block E regularly.

The project is purely voluntary. Groups of people in certain areas came together saying, “Enough is enough, we want a clean town!” Rehoboth Lions Club is currently assisting these people with black bags, tools and refreshments.

Lions Club president Cathleen Benade says, “We would like to get the entire community, town council, businesses, churches, schools, you and I, involved in a KEEP CLEAN CAMPAIGN, not just in clean-ups.” She adds that there is a litter problem at Rehoboth partly due to poor service, lack of bins and illegal dumping.

She feels hopeful, however, saying “These people really want a change in our town; everybody’s contribution will eventually make a huge difference in our town. We have such a beautiful town, a beautiful environment with our lovely acacia trees, mountains, and the lake that we are borrowing from our children. Let us join hands and say ‘yes’ for a clean Rehoboth”.

If you interested to join, contact Cathleen Benade at 062 522 055.

Cultural reconciliation through performing arts Jossie van Wyk, prominent

Rehoboth lawyer has been actively involved with a local

youth empowerment group, and she tells The Namibian about their development and successes:

Our group Die Kinders van Die Gelofte, previously known as Legacy is a youth programme in Rehoboth. The young people involved in the programme devise and perform in a play, telling their story. The purpose of the play is first of all a step towards cultural redemption and reconciliation

between the Nama and the Baster people who have so much in common. Secondly, it is to educate the youth on the history of the Rehoboth people and in particular the divine intervention of the Lord at the battle of Sam Khubis. Thirdly we aim to encourage the youth to be proud of our heritage and where we come from. To uplift our town and change the negative stigma and image that fellow Namibians have of our town and to create opportunities for the youth of our town.

This mission is achieved by using

the performing arts as a tool. There is a lot of dancing and singing in the play and of course acting. We sing Afrikaans and Nama songs, we do the Nama stap and the Baster langarm and dress up in our traditional attire. We encourage the cast members to use their gift from God and we even had several poems and a ballet solo during our last play.

The programme was birthed during the centenary celebrations when the founders of Jael ministries, three teenagers who organise holiday art workshops for children, wanted

to make a contribution. They prayed about it and with guidance from their mentor realised that they had to do a play. Several members from the community drove the project. Sylvia Beukes, Vera Tune, Cathleen Benade, Unity Olivier, Didi Olivier, Pastor Taniseb, Hosni Dax, Romie van Wyk and I. We are, however, so grateful because the youth took ownership of the programme and are now driving it themselves. They are indeed an amazing bunch.

We have up to now worked with nearly 50 young people. They are

mostly teenagers from different schools but also young adults up to 22 years old. Our two youngest members are 10 and 12 years respectively. The young people come from all different backgrounds in Rehoboth. The group started with children from the members of the Sam Khubis committee and their friends and eventually pastor Taniseb introduced his youth members and, like they say, the rest is history.

We did a show in December last year. The children had only three

days to prepare and two gifted women from Southroots, South Africa came to work with them. The last song we did was a song by Cynthia Denton, Let's Dance and the group danced in complete unity. They enjoyed themselves dancing the Nama stap and the Baster langarm and then the rain fell out of nowhere. It was for the first time for the season and there were no clouds before that and I believe that it rained because the Father heart was just so pleased with the unity amongst His children.

Citizens join hands to clean town

All ages come together to clean the town.

Kameeldoring Bed & Breakfast was established to diversify operations and accommodate visitors and tourists, Kameeldoring [acasia erioloba] lodge, located on the Greenhouse site just outside Rehoboth on route to Sossusvlei, nestled on the banks of the Oanob river.

Enjoy a quiet refreshing evening rest, wake-up to the soothing song of local birdlife, take a stroll to the Acasia forest or just get away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Kameeldoring B&B also facilitates Birthday parties, Year-end functions, Team-building events, Wedding, Conference, etc.

Kameeldoring Rates:N$ 480.00 per person, breakfast inclusive.

N$ 320.00 per person sharing, breakfast inclusive.

Contact details: Office: 062 523 440 | Cell: 081 433 8114