Angry Windhoek residents give City 48 hours to respond to petition

Residents of the Remote Control informal settlement, along with other concerned Windhoek ratepayers, on Monday accused the municipality of trapping them in a cycle of debt and disconnections.This despite residents saying they make significant payments, often using loans, to settle municipal bills.“We make loans to pay RedForce and clear our bills, only to be told afterwards that we still owe a fine for something we were never made aware of,” a petition submitted to the City on Monday reads. “Where must one get N$19 000 after taking a loan for N$20 000? This is a debt trap.”The signatories said they are tired of being “pushed around” by a system that does not communicate, penalises poor communities and favours revenue collection over human dignity.They warned that if the City does not respond within 48 hours, they will take independent action, including relocating residents from Remote Control back to Otjomuise from 1 September.Moreover, the residents warned of intensified resistance against the use of RedForce and what they described as unjust prepaid meter disconnections.The petition also criticised a reported lack of coordination between the City’s debt management and electricity departments, citing incidents where residents had allegedly paid as much as N$20 000 but remained disconnected due to undisclosed penalties.The disgruntled residents accused the City of exploiting remote disconnections through blocked prepaid meters as a cost-saving measure while ignoring the legal and social implications of cutting essential services without due process.Responding to these concerns, O’Brien Hekandjo, a senior engineer at the municipality confirmed receipt of the petition and acknowledged the issues raised.“I think the issues raised are important, and I like the fact that you also gave me proposals and solutions to some of these problems,” Hekandjo said. Bound by lawsHekandjo, however, told the petitioners that the City acts according to set regulations and rules.“The economic rules are clear: if you bypass a meter or tamper with it, you get a fine. That’s the law."He added: "Unfortunately, we can only reconnect you after the fine is paid. But I agree that it’s unfair when people aren’t informed upfront."Hekandjo said steps are being taken internally to improve coordination between departments.He further defended the use of remote prepaid meter blocking as a legally supported revenue collection tool. “Sending technicians to disconnect water costs the City about N$400 per call. With prepaid meters, you can disconnect from the office. It’s more efficient,” he said.Hekandjo also acknowledged that “while the new Electricity Bill may prohibit such disconnections, that bill has not yet been enacted.”Residents remained unconvinced and said the City is prioritising automation and legal technicalities over people’s lived realities. The petition further accuses the municipality of enforcing disconnections under regulations that are outdated and being legally challenged in court.Zero services Beyond the billing disputes, the petition also raises unresolved issues concerning the relocation of more than 380 households to Remote Control (Farm 508), an area lacking police presence, ambulance access, electricity recovery options and basic infrastructure.Residents have reported snake infestations, unsafe terrain, no mobile reception, and no public lighting. One person has reportedly died due to ambulance delays. In their ultimatum, the group said that unless the City responds meaningfully within two days, they will begin preparations to move all Remote Control residents back to Otjomuise, where they say better open spaces exist.“We are not going to wait forever,” said spokesperson Shaun Gariseb. “You cannot continue expanding Windhoek while ignoring the people you’ve already moved.”

Angry Windhoek residents give City 48 hours to respond to petition

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Namibian Sun 2025-12-19

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Angry Windhoek residents give City 48 hours to respond to petition

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Namibian Sun 2025-12-19

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