It’s too late to remove Walvis Bay council - Sankwasa
\'Residents are being overcharged for RedForce services.\'
The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, James Sankwasa, states that the limited time before the upcoming elections renders it impossible to remove the Walvis Bay council, despite calls from members of the business community during a meeting on Friday.
Sankwasa said he had travelled to Walvis Bay at the request of residents following an initial meeting held on 9 August with the urban development deputy minister and the Swapo Party Secretary General.
He explained that the follow-up meeting was arranged because residents wanted both the minister and the Secretary General to hear their concerns firsthand.
“The residents themselves spoke, and at the centre of their message was poor service delivery. Residents are being overcharged for RedForce services.
"Waste is spilling all over the town, sanitation is a challenge, and the environment is generally terribly dirty. There are also numerous potholes throughout the streets, which I witnessed personally,” Sankwasa said.
He further said there is only one month left before the elections and that the law requires a formal notice explaining why a council should be removed.
“Time is therefore insufficient,” he said.
The minister explained that he has no power to appoint or dismiss local authorities.
“Councillors are elected by residents, and it is the residents’ responsibility to hold them accountable,” he said.
According to Sankwasa, the law permits the removal of councillors only under specific conditions related to poor performance.
Municipalities, he added, are responsible for maintaining clean environments, proper roads, efficient waste management, and functional sewage systems.
“When these standards are not met, the municipality must explain why,” he said.
Audit delays and non-attendance
Sankwasa pointed out that failure to attend meetings is another ground for action against local authorities.
“If local authorities fail to hold meetings, they violate both their oath of office and their code of conduct.”
He also raised concerns about the lack of financial accountability among municipalities.
“The third ground is an adverse audit report from the Auditor General, which highlights mismanagement of municipal funds.
In many cases, including Walvis Bay, local authorities have not submitted audit returns. I wrote to the Auditor General last month for updates and was informed that some municipalities, including Walvis Bay, have not been audited in the previous two to three years. Without proper auditing, accountability for public funds becomes difficult,” he explained.
Sankwasa further reminded residents that Walvis Bay, as a category-one municipality, primarily funds its own operations.
“Nonetheless, public funds must be accounted for by those elected to office and those appointed to run municipal affairs,” he said.
He urged residents to take responsibility for the leadership they elect.
“Residents voted for these councillors, and if service delivery is poor, it is up to them to address the situation. The minister can only remove councillors for administrative reasons, not political ones. Residents must decide how they want their municipality to function and vote accordingly. Blaming the minister for poor service delivery or mismanagement is misplaced; the responsibility lies with the residents themselves. Residents must hold their councillors accountable for promises made and services delivered over the last five years,” Sankwasa added.
Sankwasa said he had travelled to Walvis Bay at the request of residents following an initial meeting held on 9 August with the urban development deputy minister and the Swapo Party Secretary General.
He explained that the follow-up meeting was arranged because residents wanted both the minister and the Secretary General to hear their concerns firsthand.
“The residents themselves spoke, and at the centre of their message was poor service delivery. Residents are being overcharged for RedForce services.
"Waste is spilling all over the town, sanitation is a challenge, and the environment is generally terribly dirty. There are also numerous potholes throughout the streets, which I witnessed personally,” Sankwasa said.
He further said there is only one month left before the elections and that the law requires a formal notice explaining why a council should be removed.
“Time is therefore insufficient,” he said.
The minister explained that he has no power to appoint or dismiss local authorities.
“Councillors are elected by residents, and it is the residents’ responsibility to hold them accountable,” he said.
According to Sankwasa, the law permits the removal of councillors only under specific conditions related to poor performance.
Municipalities, he added, are responsible for maintaining clean environments, proper roads, efficient waste management, and functional sewage systems.
“When these standards are not met, the municipality must explain why,” he said.
Audit delays and non-attendance
Sankwasa pointed out that failure to attend meetings is another ground for action against local authorities.
“If local authorities fail to hold meetings, they violate both their oath of office and their code of conduct.”
He also raised concerns about the lack of financial accountability among municipalities.
“The third ground is an adverse audit report from the Auditor General, which highlights mismanagement of municipal funds.
In many cases, including Walvis Bay, local authorities have not submitted audit returns. I wrote to the Auditor General last month for updates and was informed that some municipalities, including Walvis Bay, have not been audited in the previous two to three years. Without proper auditing, accountability for public funds becomes difficult,” he explained.
Sankwasa further reminded residents that Walvis Bay, as a category-one municipality, primarily funds its own operations.
“Nonetheless, public funds must be accounted for by those elected to office and those appointed to run municipal affairs,” he said.
He urged residents to take responsibility for the leadership they elect.
“Residents voted for these councillors, and if service delivery is poor, it is up to them to address the situation. The minister can only remove councillors for administrative reasons, not political ones. Residents must decide how they want their municipality to function and vote accordingly. Blaming the minister for poor service delivery or mismanagement is misplaced; the responsibility lies with the residents themselves. Residents must hold their councillors accountable for promises made and services delivered over the last five years,” Sankwasa added.
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