‘Locals first’ recruitment approach questioned
Desert FM October 21, 2025
The Oshana Regional Council is under the spotlight after reserving 45 casual jobs exclusively for local residents to construct toilets across its 11 constituencies.
While the council insists that this ensures communities directly benefit from development taking place in their villages, critics argue that “locals only” recruitment risks promoting regionalism and exclusion.
The Hardap region faced similar criticism earlier this year for adopting a comparable approach.
To unpack the impact on fair employment practices, Hardap Regional Council chairperson Gershon Dâusab shares his thoughts.