Maltahöhe community demands cancellation of Sossusvlei shuttle concession

The Maltahöhe community is demanding the cancellation of the Sossusvlei Shuttle Service Concession Agreement with About Africa, accusing the tourism ministry of failing to provide satisfactory answers to concerns about community representation, consultation and the benefits of the deal.

In a public letter dated 26 October, the chairperson of the Sida Namis Community Organisation, Josef Petrus van der Westhuizen, called on tourism minister Indileni Daniel to account for the ministry’s handling of the agreement and publicly announce a clear timetable for resolving the dispute.

The chairperson said the community had been waiting for answers since February, despite repeated correspondence and an assurance from the minister that the matter was receiving attention and priority.

On 13 February 2026, van der Westhuizen said he formally requested the minister’s intervention, raising questions about the legitimacy of the individuals who signed the agreement on behalf of the community, the absence of meaningful consultation, limited access to the agreement and uncertainty about the benefits intended for Maltahöhe residents.

The requests included an investigation into the process, disclosure of the agreement and a meeting with the affected community. Van der Westhuizen also called for the agreement to be cancelled if the concerns remained unresolved and for the concession to return to a legitimate, community-led process.

A follow-up letter was sent on 15 April, documenting previous attempts to obtain answers. According to him, Daniel responded on 26 June, stating that the matter was already receiving attention and priority.

However, four months later, the community still had no substantive response or clear account of what action the ministry had taken, according to him.

“What does your assurance of priority actually mean?” van der Westhuizen asked, questioning whether the assurance signalled an intention to act or was merely intended to quieten the community’s concerns.

He said the situation had become more concerning following a social media video released by Job Amupanda, in which documents relating to the ministry’s handling of the matter were presented publicly.

Van der Westhuizen argued that the community should not have to rely on social media disclosures to understand how an agreement affecting its interests was processed. It calls on the ministry to explain the procedures followed, the authority under which the agreement was signed and the measures taken to protect the intended beneficiaries.

Van der Westhuizen said the continued lack of transparency raised concerns about whether politically connected individuals or families could be benefiting at the expense of the wider community. The letter explicitly stated that political favouritism has not been established as a finding, but demands transparency to address the concerns.

He insisted that the agreement should not be accepted simply because it has already been signed, particularly when the authority of the signatories and the process followed remain under scrutiny.

Among the demands in the letter are a substantive explanation of action taken since February, access to the concession agreement, disclosure of the community representation and consultation procedures, and clarification of any investigation into the matter.

Van der Westhuizen said that they also want a meeting in Maltahöhe involving the community, the ministry, About Africa and other relevant parties before the tourism season progresses further.

A public timetable must identify the steps to be taken and when the community can expect an outcome; another general assurance that the matter was receiving attention would not suffice.

“I don't require your written response to this letter; announce the timeline publicly,” van der Westhuizen wrote, adding that any delays caused by investigations or legal processes should be explained, with a firm completion date provided.

The letter called for the existing agreement to be cancelled through the appropriate legal and contractual procedures and the concession returned to a transparent, legitimate and community-led process.

“The demand is simple: cancel the agreement through the appropriate legal process, return the concession to a legitimate community-led process, and allow the people of Maltahöhe to make an informed decision about their future,” the letter states.

Van der Westhuizen warned that the community’s patience should not be mistaken for weakness or consent to continued exclusion, insisting that the ministry must now account publicly for its position.

When contacted for comment, the spokesperson of the ministry Vilho Hangula said that they would have to confirm first whether these letters reached the office of the minister. 

“I cannot comment on something just circulating on the internet.”