KRC urges residents to file cases against City
The Katutura Residents Committee (KRC) has called on all Windhoek residents whose municipal accounts have escalated suspiciously in the past three years to file cases against the City of Windhoek.
Spokesperson Shaun Gariseb made the remarks during a press briefing at Jakob Marengo Secondary School last Wednesday, where he alleged that the City has a "fraudulent solar billing system”.
“This billing system adds money into accounts of people who are not supposed to receive that money, ranging from N$35 000 to N$100 000. This system’s defectiveness has been occurring for three years and the City has been aware of it,” he said.
‘Secret system’
He added that one pensioner, only identified as ‘Oupa B’ from Katutura’s Malakadraai, has debt of N$400 000 and pays N$2 500 towards it per month. “When we consulted with a group of lawyers, they immediately noticed that N$25 000 was accrued from May to June this year, even though his water and electricity had been cut off. The City did not respond to our questions about this issue,” Gariseb said.
He added that they urged the City to explain how it arrived at these amounts, but the municipality failed to do so. “Our complaints to the Namibian Competition Commission and the reason for taking [the City] to court is that the calculations and methods used to charge residents do not add up. The solar account is apparently a secret system, with only three people allowed to deal with it,” he noted.
He added that they have a memorandum, reports, emails and a court document proving that the City has been engaging in illegal activities. “We were already sure from the beginning that there was something fishy at the City of Windhoek. They have been demanding payment from us illegally - payment that they do not legally deserve. They have been doing that through a defective billing system. We demand that they attend to this correctly,” he stressed.
President ‘refused’ meeting
According to Gariseb, KRC has made efforts to share classified information from its sources with President Nangolo Mbumba that could help rectify the status quo, but he refused to see them.
Mbumba referred them to the ministers of urban and rural development and mines and energy, entities they have already engaged but could not get substantial help from, he claimed. “We are not sure if he [the president] has perused our cries, which stated that the constitutional offices - the Anti-Corruption Commission [ACC], Office of the Ombudsman and Namibian Competition Commission - are being undermined by the City,” he said.
Gariseb added: “The ombudsman’s office informed us that it would summon the individuals involved and issue arrest warrants for them if they did not obey the summons. The ACC and the competition commission have invited us to meetings to discuss this issue further.”
In response to KRC’s claims, City spokesperson Lydia Amutenya said the matter has their urgent attention and the City is currently investigating irregularities identified within its billing system. She added that they are unable to disclose further information, as this may compromise the integrity and quality of the process.
“We are committed to resolving it promptly and professionally. We assure our residents that this issue is being handled with the utmost professionalism. The outcome of the investigation will guide our next steps and inform any necessary corrective measures,” she noted.
“We encourage any residents with concerns or irregularities in their accounts to bring it to our attention by reporting them directly to our customer contact centre at 061 290 3777," she said.
Spokesperson Shaun Gariseb made the remarks during a press briefing at Jakob Marengo Secondary School last Wednesday, where he alleged that the City has a "fraudulent solar billing system”.
“This billing system adds money into accounts of people who are not supposed to receive that money, ranging from N$35 000 to N$100 000. This system’s defectiveness has been occurring for three years and the City has been aware of it,” he said.
‘Secret system’
He added that one pensioner, only identified as ‘Oupa B’ from Katutura’s Malakadraai, has debt of N$400 000 and pays N$2 500 towards it per month. “When we consulted with a group of lawyers, they immediately noticed that N$25 000 was accrued from May to June this year, even though his water and electricity had been cut off. The City did not respond to our questions about this issue,” Gariseb said.
He added that they urged the City to explain how it arrived at these amounts, but the municipality failed to do so. “Our complaints to the Namibian Competition Commission and the reason for taking [the City] to court is that the calculations and methods used to charge residents do not add up. The solar account is apparently a secret system, with only three people allowed to deal with it,” he noted.
He added that they have a memorandum, reports, emails and a court document proving that the City has been engaging in illegal activities. “We were already sure from the beginning that there was something fishy at the City of Windhoek. They have been demanding payment from us illegally - payment that they do not legally deserve. They have been doing that through a defective billing system. We demand that they attend to this correctly,” he stressed.
President ‘refused’ meeting
According to Gariseb, KRC has made efforts to share classified information from its sources with President Nangolo Mbumba that could help rectify the status quo, but he refused to see them.
Mbumba referred them to the ministers of urban and rural development and mines and energy, entities they have already engaged but could not get substantial help from, he claimed. “We are not sure if he [the president] has perused our cries, which stated that the constitutional offices - the Anti-Corruption Commission [ACC], Office of the Ombudsman and Namibian Competition Commission - are being undermined by the City,” he said.
Gariseb added: “The ombudsman’s office informed us that it would summon the individuals involved and issue arrest warrants for them if they did not obey the summons. The ACC and the competition commission have invited us to meetings to discuss this issue further.”
In response to KRC’s claims, City spokesperson Lydia Amutenya said the matter has their urgent attention and the City is currently investigating irregularities identified within its billing system. She added that they are unable to disclose further information, as this may compromise the integrity and quality of the process.
“We are committed to resolving it promptly and professionally. We assure our residents that this issue is being handled with the utmost professionalism. The outcome of the investigation will guide our next steps and inform any necessary corrective measures,” she noted.
“We encourage any residents with concerns or irregularities in their accounts to bring it to our attention by reporting them directly to our customer contact centre at 061 290 3777," she said.
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