Skilled San people struggle to find jobs

Chief Frederick Langman of the ‚╪Kao ||Aesi Traditional Authority in the Omaheke Region has bemoaned the lack of socio-economic development in his community.

The 75-year-old chief expressed a desire for more empowerment to address the ongoing marginalisation of the San people.

Our news team visited the Chief at his residence at Skoonheid.

Skoonheid is an isolated rural community, and the Chief of the ‚╪Kao ||Aesi traditional authority resides here.

Lack of infrastructural development, high unemployment, and the need for land are just some of the challenges Chief Langman has pointed out.

He claims that his community has been forgotten by lawmakers.

Langman says Christmas is a holiday that his community, including him, could not celebrate as they were overwhelmed by food insecurity.

He, however, admitted that the government has delivered food through its various programmes shortly before the festive season, but the food parcels he says are not enough.

“I have tried to say, Just give me a little piece of land; the people are complaining of hunger. We can start a little gardening project and help my people. If you have land and access to water, you at least know that you can plough. As it is, we are put between private farms, and this land we are on belongs to the state; our lives are not progressing.”

This is the chief’s office; he says since it was constructed in 2012, the building has been without electricity and water.
He claims that the water is being pumped from a nearby farm, and this he alleges is done at the behest of the farm owners.

“Can the government please bring about change? Even if you compare my living standards to those of other chiefs, there is a difference. I really do not want to say much. Perhaps if I met with the ministry of urban and rural development, I could tell them what is on my heart, but change is really needed.”

Another pressing issue for Langman is the high unemployment rate in the area, saying even those who have completed high school are finding it challenging to secure jobs in the unskilled area.