Staff Writer
Santam Namibia, in partnership with the City of Windhoek, has launched a flood signage project to improve public safety at high-risk river crossings in the capital.
The insurer has committed about N$150 000 for the installation of warning and depth marker signs across flood-prone areas identified by the city’s emergency and disaster risk management division.
The chief executive officer of Santam Namibia, Franco Feris, said Namibia’s risk landscape has changed in recent years.
“Shifting climate patterns and rapid urbanisation have significantly increased the frequency and intensity of flash floods. The result has been a concerning rise in vehicles and pedestrians being washed away in dry riverbeds during sudden downpours, in some cases leading to loss of life,” he said.
The new signs will serve as visible reminders of these risks, especially in flood-prone areas such as Arrebusch Street in Cimbebasia, Pelican Street in Hochland Park, Nelson Mandela Avenue and Metje Street in Eros, Erosweg, and Salem Street in Dolam.
Each site will have stacked warning signs and water depth markers that are designed to be easy to see and durable, helping alert motorists and pedestrians when riverbeds become unsafe to cross.
Feris said the initiative shows how collaboration between the private sector and local government can make communities safer.
“This is about shared responsibility. The City of Windhoek plays a vital role in identifying risk hotspots, while we bring the resources and risk expertise to help address those risks in a sustainable way.”
Windhoek mayor and Chairperson of the local authority disaster risk management committee Ndeshihafela Larandja, said the project comes at the right time.
“These flood warning signs will not only help save lives but also reduce the risk of injury and property damage. We are proud to partner with Santam Namibia on this important step towards making our city safer and more resilient.”
The project is based on Santam’s partnership for risk and resilience (P4RR) initiative in South Africa, which supported 102 municipalities and reached more than 24 million people.
Feris said the partnership with the City of Windhoek will, over time, be expanded to other municipalities across Namibia.
Caption
The City of Windhoek hopes that flood warning signs will reduce the risk of injury and property damage.
- Photo: Contributed
