Crime, other social issues jeopardise Swakop tourism

Swakopmund, Namibia’s tourism mecca, is currently confronting a wave of escalating social issues.

Concerns range from an increasing crime rate, homelessness and public underage drinking to the slow bureaucratic process of registering welfare organisations.

All these matters are threatening the town’s safety and its economic lifeline, tourism, says Swakopmund Residents’ Association chairperson John Hopkins.

During last week’s meeting on safety, attended by the Swakopmund Town Council, municipal officers and stakeholders from law-enforcement and social services, Hopkins said: “Cities and towns around the world grapple with the problem of homelessness. At Swakopmund, we are facing a similar influx of people that are sleeping on the streets and creating crime syndicates.

“What really needs stressing is that this is a tourist town. We rely on tourists to come, to spend money here. But now, they feel unsafe, they feel unwelcome.”

He said children are drinking on the streets.

“Many of these children say they are better off on the streets because tourists feel sorry for them and offer help,” Hopkins said.
He called out the slow pace of registering welfare organisations which could assist, which takes almost a year.

“We have organisations in the town willing to work together, but we need to support them,” he said.

Hopkins also brought up the case of the Erongo House of Safety which has since fallen into disrepair and disuse.

“It doesn’t help to construct these facilities if they’re not going to function. Without proper management, they become part of the problem, not the solution,” he said.

Swakopmund mayor Dina Namubes emphasised the urgent need to tackle the town’s safety and security issues, urging the community’s active participation.

She said recent studies show an increase in beggars and street children – a situation she said is worrying.

“We need to fast-track the implementation of solutions to curb the increase and further damage,” she said.

Namubes paid special tribute to the town’s taxi drivers, who she said play a critical role in the community.

“They are our eyes, ears and hands, making our lives easier. Sometimes they are the ones reporting fires, crimes and other unsafe acts,” she said.

Namubes also addressed the importance of maintaining Swakopmund’s reputation as a safe haven for tourists, business people, and government officials.

“Let us please hold hands and make Swakopmund a great town,” she said.

STATISTICS

Warrant officer Daniel Ipetekwa of the Swakopmund police released crime statistics spanning from March to May.

The data covers both Swakopmund and Mondesas.

The most common crime over this three-month period was “other thefts”, with 111 reported incidents.

Assault-related crimes also formed a large chunk of the offences, with “assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm” and “common assault” collectively recording 82 incidents.

Ipetekwa expressed particular concern about the notable increase in “theft under false pretense”.

Starting with five reported cases in March, the figure jumped to 13 by May.

In a more positive light, the data revealed a decrease in drunk driving cases. Incidents fell from 10 in March to four in May, possibly due to heightened law enforcement and public awareness.

Meanwhile, illegal hunting and poaching and the concealment of birth were the least reported crimes, with one case each reported over the three months.

A total of 394 cases over the three-month period were reported for both stations combined, which included three murders, five rapes and 34 robberies.