Renthia Kaimbi
A raw water pump valued at about N$800 000 has disappeared from the raw water sewerage plant in Swakopmund.
The theft was discovered in August 2024 and remains under investigation after the council’s insurance claim was rejected.
A report submitted to the management committee states that the stolen Grundfos pump weighed 1 490 kilograms and was removed from the plant at the corner of Nelson Mandela Avenue and Rakotoka Street.
Its size suggests that several people, using a crane and a truck, may have been involved.
Triple One Investments CC, the contractor responsible for 24-hour security at the site, reported the theft.
An internal investigation found it difficult to immediately hold the security company liable and raised the possibility that municipal employees may have removed the pump using municipal vehicles.
In that scenario, security officers may not have known whether the activity was authorised. The report also noted that security guards had previously questioned municipal employees operating a crane-mounted vehicle at the site.
The municipality’s insurance broker rejected the claim. The claim was filed after the 30-day deadline set in the policy. The insurer also said there was not enough evidence to confirm a theft, with some reports suggesting the pump may have “disappeared”.
The rejection was further based on the absence of forced entry and on the site not being consistently secured, both required under the theft section of the policy.
The engineering and planning services department has since installed security cameras and is considering an alarm system. The management committee on Monday recommended that the general manager of engineering and planning services urgently investigate the matter and report back. It also recommended that Triple One Investments CC be held liable for the loss under its public liability insurance cover and be asked to refund the council the full N$800 000.
Other proposed steps include requiring security guards to verify the authorisation of all drivers using municipal vehicles and keeping a detailed logbook for all equipment entering or leaving council premises. They also call for clear procedures on how redundant equipment should be disposed of.
Swakopmund municipality spokesperson Linda Mupupa told the Windhoek Observer that the investigation is ongoing. “We’re still investigating the disappearance of the water pump in collaboration with the security company,” said Mupupa.
