Walvis Bay residents body calls for administrative accountability
Sharon Roodt, chairperson of the Joint Walvis Bay Residents Association, says her organisation is determined to restore pride in the town by demanding financial accountability, tackling informal housing and ensuring fair municipal service delivery.
Roodt said the association, revived in 2020 by councillor Buddy Bramwell, was formed “to speak for everybody and on everybody’s behalf.”
It aims to represent all residents – homeowners and tenants alike – across all suburbs, including Kuisebmond, Narraville, Farm 37 and Long Beach.
“Our vision is to get the smile back to our town,” Roodt said. “We want to ensure stability, that finances are correctly used, and that those in power are transparent and accountable.”
Urgent questions
Roodt criticised the municipality’s lack of internal auditing and absence of a performance management system.
“Over 50 percent of the operating budget goes to salaries. So, every dollar paid to the municipality, 50 cents go to wages. Residents are asking, what are we getting for that?” she said.
On informal settlements, Roodt said the association seeks long-term solutions to replace shacks with proper housing.
“You pay for one household, but there are ten shacks on that property. It’s not fair,” she said, adding that population pressure is increasing with the promise of oil and green-energy projects.
Open to all
Roodt rejected criticism that the association lacks diversity. In a prepared statement, she said: “We categorically dismiss any allegations of a nationalistic agenda, apartheid thinking, or exclusivity. The Joint Walvis Bay Residents Association is open to all residents, as emphasised by the word ‘joint’.”
She said efforts to recruit councillor candidates from all backgrounds were hampered by a lack of volunteers.
“We advertised and asked for people to stand. Only a few came forward. It’s a tough job with huge responsibility,” she said.
'This is personal'
Roodt also stressed that the association is “accountable only to residents.”
“We don’t take orders from Windhoek. We live here. This is personal,” she said. “When people call me at three in the morning about a water leak because the municipal water standby isn’t answering, I’ll get up, make the call, and ensure someone attends to the problem. That’s accountability.”
Despite frustration over service delivery and residents moving away, Roodt remained hopeful. “Our town is suffering, but if we work together, we can get it where we want it. There should be a reason to smile,” she said.
Roodt said the association, revived in 2020 by councillor Buddy Bramwell, was formed “to speak for everybody and on everybody’s behalf.”
It aims to represent all residents – homeowners and tenants alike – across all suburbs, including Kuisebmond, Narraville, Farm 37 and Long Beach.
“Our vision is to get the smile back to our town,” Roodt said. “We want to ensure stability, that finances are correctly used, and that those in power are transparent and accountable.”
Urgent questions
Roodt criticised the municipality’s lack of internal auditing and absence of a performance management system.
“Over 50 percent of the operating budget goes to salaries. So, every dollar paid to the municipality, 50 cents go to wages. Residents are asking, what are we getting for that?” she said.
On informal settlements, Roodt said the association seeks long-term solutions to replace shacks with proper housing.
“You pay for one household, but there are ten shacks on that property. It’s not fair,” she said, adding that population pressure is increasing with the promise of oil and green-energy projects.
Open to all
Roodt rejected criticism that the association lacks diversity. In a prepared statement, she said: “We categorically dismiss any allegations of a nationalistic agenda, apartheid thinking, or exclusivity. The Joint Walvis Bay Residents Association is open to all residents, as emphasised by the word ‘joint’.”
She said efforts to recruit councillor candidates from all backgrounds were hampered by a lack of volunteers.
“We advertised and asked for people to stand. Only a few came forward. It’s a tough job with huge responsibility,” she said.
'This is personal'
Roodt also stressed that the association is “accountable only to residents.”
“We don’t take orders from Windhoek. We live here. This is personal,” she said. “When people call me at three in the morning about a water leak because the municipal water standby isn’t answering, I’ll get up, make the call, and ensure someone attends to the problem. That’s accountability.”
Despite frustration over service delivery and residents moving away, Roodt remained hopeful. “Our town is suffering, but if we work together, we can get it where we want it. There should be a reason to smile,” she said.
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