Oranjemund To Open ~ 14th October 2017

[Michael Alexander]

So here it is, the entire town is talking about it....

After decades of being a closed town, the once private town of Oranjemund will be opening up....

No longer will one require a security clearance to enter....

All the vagabonds and tourists in the world may visit..... a free for all town!.... a normal town!

Roll up! Roll Up!

After years of speculations of what will happen to this once unique of town's, it  is about to become reality!

[Jeremy Dixon]

Im putting money on a huge influx of people in search of the Oranjemund dream.

[Mike Thurtell]

Presumably one must apply for a visa?

[Michael Alexander]

Presumably one must apply for a visa?

After the 14th of October, No more visa/permit...... just a valid passport of you are coming from SA.


A lot of locals are not happy with their unemployed family members wanting to come and squat with them in anticipation of finding non existent work.........

[Mike Thurtell]

Thanks Mike for your reply. Fromm a selfish perspective that's nice: I can pop up on the spur of the moment/long weekend and get mugged in Oranjemund instead of Cape Town. sounds like a massive business opportunity/ies in the private security line.

[Michael Alexander]

If one more person in the shop comes to me and complains about not wanting the town to open, I think I will cry......



The town will need to open if you want to enable it's chance for a better future..... otherwise, you might wake up with an empty worthless town one day....

[Mike Thurtell]

I have been bemused that it has taken so long to free Oranjemund, seeing that the town was separated from the mining area decades ago, and Namibia joined the UN, has a Bill of Rights and in its recent "compliance report" re its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, said:

CCPR/C/NAM/2

"Article 12 - Freedom of movement
157.   Article 21 of the Namibian Constitution guarantees freedom of movement of the individual. The right to move freely throughout Namibia, to reside and settle in any part of Namibia and to leave and return to Namibia is a constitutionally guaranteed right.
158.   Article 7 of the Namibian Constitution provides that deprivation of the right to personal liberty must be in accordance with procedures established by law.
159.   Women's civil liberties and freedom of movement is guaranteed by the Namibian Constitution and married women can travel without their husband's permission.
160.   All persons have the right to reside in a place of their choice within Namibia. The problem arises when people erect shacks in a proclaimed area without the permission of the local authority. In this case, they will be forced to leave or face eviction for violating the local authority laws."

I'm sure that for many the opening will be a threat, but then for some this is a wonderful business opportunity.

Whatever the outcome, it is very difficult for a state to justify closed towns unless they are military or nuclear installations or the like.

Good luck Oranjemund!