Hertta-Maria Amutenja
The City of Windhoek has confirmed that its contract with RedForce Debt Management remains valid under the original agreement until July 2025, with a one-year exit clause allowing the service to continue until July 2026.
The City confirmed that they did not grant any new extension beyond these terms.
“The RedForce contract is valid until July 2025, as per the terms of the initial agreement. Additionally, the contract includes a one-year exit clause,” said city spokesperson Lydia Amutenya.
This comes amid continued public concern about debt recovery processes, disconnections despite payments, and questions over procurement procedures. Amutenya said the City will re-advertise the debt collection service before the current contract ends.
“In line with public procurement requirements, the City will advertise the revenue collection service before the end of the contract period,” she said.
She also said the City is working to improve coordination between departments to address complaints about disconnections.
“Efforts are already underway to strengthen collaboration between the Electricity Department and the Debt Management Division to ensure real-time account updates, quicker response times, and consistent communication regarding disconnections and payments.”
Amutenya urged residents experiencing disconnections after making payments to report the issue.
“If a resident has made a payment but continues to experience service disconnection, we encourage them to visit or contact our Debt Management Office immediately with proof of payment so that their account can be reviewed and services restored promptly,” she said.
On the status of four forensic audits previously demanded by residents, Amutenya said investigations have been completed and submitted to the chief executive officer’s office.
“These reports are currently subject to formal internal review processes, including legal and administrative scrutiny, before any final decisions or disclosures can be made.”
She did not provide a timeline for their release but said the City would update the public when legally allowed.
The Anti-Corruption Commission earlier this year confirmed that it is investigating the RedForce appointment. The matter has been referred to the Prosecutor General’s office, where a decision is pending on whether to prosecute. The case stems from claims that the N$1.2 billion municipal debt is inflated due to a faulty billing system.
Activist Shaun Gariseb previously said the system has been inaccurate since 2015, with residents billed on estimates and handed over to RedForce based on incorrect figures.
Minister of Urban and Rural Development James Sankwasa earlier said he was reviewing the audit reports. Questions sent to his office were not answered by the time of publication.
