The state of the once popular Reho Spa Resort is deteriorating more every day and will cost millions to bring it back into operation.
At the same time, uncertainty exists about the payment of about N$1 million to the Rehoboth Town Council for the Spa’s water and electricity account, as well as for rates and taxes. It is estimated that about N$30 million would be needed to bring the Spa back into operation, after which expenses for maintaining it and operational cost will kick in.
As part of Namibia Wildlife Resort’s (NWR) turnaround strategy in 2008, NWR entered into private/public partnerships (PPP’s) with several private companies to redevelop a number of its resorts such as Reho Spa. NWR entered into a leasing agreement with Reho Spa (Pty) Ltd in July 2008.
However, the Reho Spa permanently closed its doors in April 2011 after the company, Reho Spa Ltd, at the time owned by former National Youth Council acting secretary general Ralph Blaauw and Polytechnic of Namibia registrar Corneels Japhta, ran up huge unpaid municipal bills and failed to fulfil its obligations towards NWR.
A number of companies, including the Rehoboth Town Council under whose jurisdiction the resort falls, had tendered to take over the resort's operations in November 2012, and in May last year the Rehoboth Community Trust was awarded the tender.
According to the chairman of the Trust, Ronald Kubas, proposals to amend the contract were sent to NWR about seven months ago.
“We are still waiting for a reply from NWR. What I can tell you is that with our initial expression of interest in the Reho Spa it was clearly stated that we cannot be held accountable for any historical debt. That was accepted by NWR and now the ball is again in their hands,” said Kubas.
However, the CEO of Rehoboth Town Council, Theo Jankowski is adamant that the debt has to be settled.
“Whichever company comes in now, the debt should first be settled to the council before we reconnect the water and all essential services,” Jankowski said.
At the same time, uncertainty exists about the payment of about N$1 million to the Rehoboth Town Council for the Spa’s water and electricity account, as well as for rates and taxes. It is estimated that about N$30 million would be needed to bring the Spa back into operation, after which expenses for maintaining it and operational cost will kick in.
As part of Namibia Wildlife Resort’s (NWR) turnaround strategy in 2008, NWR entered into private/public partnerships (PPP’s) with several private companies to redevelop a number of its resorts such as Reho Spa. NWR entered into a leasing agreement with Reho Spa (Pty) Ltd in July 2008.
However, the Reho Spa permanently closed its doors in April 2011 after the company, Reho Spa Ltd, at the time owned by former National Youth Council acting secretary general Ralph Blaauw and Polytechnic of Namibia registrar Corneels Japhta, ran up huge unpaid municipal bills and failed to fulfil its obligations towards NWR.
A number of companies, including the Rehoboth Town Council under whose jurisdiction the resort falls, had tendered to take over the resort's operations in November 2012, and in May last year the Rehoboth Community Trust was awarded the tender.
According to the chairman of the Trust, Ronald Kubas, proposals to amend the contract were sent to NWR about seven months ago.
“We are still waiting for a reply from NWR. What I can tell you is that with our initial expression of interest in the Reho Spa it was clearly stated that we cannot be held accountable for any historical debt. That was accepted by NWR and now the ball is again in their hands,” said Kubas.
However, the CEO of Rehoboth Town Council, Theo Jankowski is adamant that the debt has to be settled.
“Whichever company comes in now, the debt should first be settled to the council before we reconnect the water and all essential services,” Jankowski said.
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