Justicia Shipena
The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, James Sankwasa, has ordered local authorities in the ||Kharas and Hardap regions to reverse their decisions to write off pensioners’ debts.
He said the move was carried out without ministerial approval and is therefore illegal.
In a letter dated 24 October to Lüderitz mayor Ronnie McKay, Sankwasa said his ministry had learnt that several local authorities had written off pensioners’ debts without first seeking authorisation from his office, as required by law.
Sankwasa’s order comes days after the ||Kharas and Hardap regional councils directed municipalities under their control to cancel pensioners’ outstanding debts before the end of the year.
The move, they said, aimed to promote social justice and protect the dignity of elderly citizens.
“Resolutions taken by local authorities to this effect are considered illegal. Therefore, local authorities concerned are required to rescind such resolutions and seek approval from the minister prior to writing off pensioners’ debts,” Sankwasa said.
He explained that the Local Authorities Act No. 23 of 1992, as amended, requires ministerial oversight for major financial decisions, including debt write-offs.
He stressed that while debt management is part of a local authority’s Credit Control Policy, it still requires ministerial approval for any major financial decisions.
Sankwasa warned councils to comply with all legal procedures before taking major financial steps.
“Local authorities are further required to seek ministerial approval prior to allocation of land and writing off of debts for pensioners, as with other significant financial actions,” he wrote.
He added that the same requirement applies to the purchase, leasing, or acquisition of immovable property by a local authority council.
In a circular dated 16 October 2025, ||Kharas Regional Council chairperson Joseph Isaack instructed local authorities to write off water debts accumulated by pensioners, both living and deceased.
He said the decision aligns with constitutional principles of social welfare and compassion.
Isaack said the directive was based on the Local Authorities Act of 1992, which allows councils to cancel charges if it serves the public interest.
Local authorities in ||Kharas were then instructed to identify affected pensioners, pass council resolutions and record all write-offs transparently by 30 November 2025.
The Hardap Regional Council issued a similar order on 15 October 2025, instructing local authorities to write off all municipal debts owed by pensioners by December 2025.
Its chairperson, Gershon Dausab, said the decision followed appeals from residents and rising living costs affecting the elderly.
Dausab said the process must follow transparency, accountability, and sound financial management principles.
