Council Meeting Update - 07 July 2026 | Walvis Bay

Jul 21
6 min read

Updated: 4 days ago

Disclaimer: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of our analysis, all information contained in this article is provided without warranty and it remains every person's responsibility to fact-check details. This is especially the case if the OCM Minutes have not yet been published.

This Ordinary Council Meeting covered a petition, a motion for noise regulations, some new land applications and municipal sports games.

Our submitted questions were once again deferred, and we may need to check up on this as the Standing Rules of Order lay out exactly how questions are supposed to be handled.

Below is a short breakdown of what this means for Walvis Bay residents.

Walvis Bay Council Video Update

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Key Decisions at a Glance

Moving Ahead:	Procurement improvements Noise regulations
Delayed:	--
Needs Follow-Up:	Submitted petitions

What This Means for Residents

Petition Calls for Municipal Intervention

Council received a petition from the Okapare Fishermen Association requesting municipal intervention into allegations of mismanagement and corruption within the October Seafarers Land & Housing Federation. The petition asks Council to acknowledge the concerns formally, support or initiate an independent investigation and ensure accountability and transparency in matters relating to land and housing. While Council merely received the petition at this stage, it once again highlights the growing frustrations surrounding housing initiatives and the expectation that public institutions act where allegations affecting residents are raised.

Council Moves Ahead with Noise and Nuisance Regulations

One of the most significant items before Council was a motion submitted by Councillor Sharon Roodt calling for the Municipality to begin drafting dedicated Noise and Nuisance Regulations for Walvis Bay.

The timing of this proposal is particularly relevant. It follows several high-profile disputes over excessive noise in Walvis Bay, including the recent court proceedings involving La Vine Lounge, where neighbouring residents successfully challenged persistent noise disturbances. While the proposed regulations are not directed at any particular establishment, cases such as these demonstrate why many residents have been calling for clearer rules and stronger enforcement mechanisms.

Erongo RED Board Representation Back Before Council

Council again considered the Municipality's representation on the Board of Directors of Erongo RED following concerns surrounding its current representative. The recommendation proposed that the current board member first be afforded an opportunity to provide Council with a written explanation on the state of affairs before any final decision is taken. Failing this, Council proposed withdrawing the appointment, elevating the current alternate representative to full board member and appointing a new alternate representative for the remainder of the current term ending in March 2027.

Junior Councillors Selected for Youth Ambassadors Programme

Council also approved the participation of eight Junior Councillors in the 2026 Youth Ambassadors Africa Programme in Washington, D.C., together with the Mayor's Personal Assistant acting as mentor and chaperone.

The programme runs from 8 to 30 July and is funded primarily by the organisers, with Council approving municipal funding for incidental expenses and branded clothing. Council also requested that participants present a report and feedback session upon their return.

Investing in young leaders has long-term value for the community, particularly where participants return with new ideas and experiences that can benefit Walvis Bay.

Procurement Contracts Still Await Legal Clarity

One governance matter that deserves attention concerns who is legally authorised to sign municipal procurement contracts.

Council received legal advice indicating that procurement contracts are governed primarily by the Public Procurement Act rather than certain provisions of the Local Authorities Act. Rather than treating the matter as settled, Council resolved to seek a further legal opinion from the Office of the Attorney-General to clarify whether any conflict exists between the two pieces of legislation and which contracts, if any, require the signature of the Chairperson of the Management Committee. The matter will return to Council once that legal opinion has been obtained.

Procurement Audit Highlights Need for Better Compliance

Council also received the Procurement Compliance Audit for the 2024/2025 financial year, conducted by the Ministry of Finance. Rather than simply noting the report, Council resolved that the identified shortcomings and corrective actions should be implemented in order to improve compliance with the Public Procurement Act and strengthen the Municipality's future audit performance.

Although the audit findings themselves were not included in the public agenda, the fact that corrective measures are required indicates that improvements remain necessary within the Municipality's procurement processes.

Public procurement governs how millions of dollars of public money are spent each year. Strong procurement systems reduce the risk of irregular expenditure, improve transparency and help ensure residents receive better value for money. For that reason alone, this is one of the more important governance matters considered during the meeting.

Housing, Education and Industrial Development

Several agenda items dealt with the allocation and reservation of municipal land for housing, education and economic development. While each application was considered separately, together they paint a picture of the direction in which Council wants Walvis Bay to grow.

Council approved the continued disposal of land on Portion 12 of Farm 37 to the Nalitungwe Community Saving Foundation for residential development, subject to an extensive list of conditions.

Council also approved the sale of approximately 133,000 m² of municipal land to the University of Namibia for the establishment of a School of Marine Engineering and Marine Studies. The proposal rescinds two previous Council resolutions dating back to 2018 and 2020 and represents another attempt to establish a tertiary education facility in Walvis Bay that supports Namibia's growing maritime and blue economy.

On Farm 39, Council reserved land for two separate private developments. The first is a proposed Oil and Gas Training Centre by Africa Provider Offshore Services, while the second is a proposed LPG Wholesale Facility by Conity Energy Solution. It is important to note that these approvals do not authorise construction. They merely reserve the land while the applicants complete environmental impact assessments, planning processes and other statutory requirements before returning to Council for further approval.

Council further approved extending the Roads Authority's lease of the NaTIS Centre for another five years while approving the relocation of light motor vehicle driving tests from the Civic Centre to the Rooikop facility.

Maritime Week Continues

Council noted the feedback report on the 2025 Walvis Bay Maritime Week and endorsed the continuation of the initiative as one of the Municipality's strategic economic development programmes. Funding of N$600,000 has again been earmarked for the 2026 event, subject to sponsorships and the normal budgeting process.

Council Again Approves Large Sports Delegations

Council also received the feedback report on the Municipality's participation in the Namibian Local Authority Sports and Recreation Association (NALASRA) Games before approving participation in the 2026 Southern Africa Inter-Municipal Sports Association (SAIMSA) Games in Eswatini. The approval includes a budget of N$1 million, approximately 135 participants and the nomination of five councillors to accompany the delegation, subject to Ministerial approval.

JWBRA has consistently supported staff wellness and sporting activities where they provide value to employees and the Municipality. However, we remain concerned about the increasing costs associated with these delegations, particularly at a time when residents continue to raise concerns about service delivery, infrastructure maintenance and municipal finances.

More concerning is that Council once again failed to follow its own established guideline limiting political representation on these trips. Instead of the three councillors previously agreed upon, five councillors were nominated.

An Interesting Budget Correction

One of the more revealing items on the agenda was a request to transfer N$8 million that had already been budgeted for the rehabilitation of the Narraville North Pump Station to fund consultancy work for an Integrated Water and Wastewater Master Plan instead. Council also approved the creation of a new capital vote to accommodate the project.

There is nothing wrong with developing a long-term water and wastewater master plan. In fact, such planning is essential for a growing town.

What is concerning is that this transfer became necessary almost immediately after Council approved the 2026/27 budget. Budgets are supposed to reflect careful planning and realistic project costing. Having to move millions of dollars between capital projects so soon after adoption suggests that the original budgeting process was less robust than residents should reasonably expect.

Good budgeting is not simply about balancing numbers on paper. It is about ensuring that projects are properly planned before the budget is approved, reducing the need for significant corrections only weeks later.

Monthly Performance Reports

Council also received the Municipal Monthly Reports for March and April 2026, providing an overview of departmental performance across the Municipality. As is often the case, these reports were noted without extensive discussion.

Official Documents

Find the agenda and minutes (when available) for Walvis Bay's Council Meeting of DATE below.

What Happens Next?

Our questions are likely to be discussed at the next Management Committee Meeting - these aren't open to the public, but we should hear back at the next Council Meeting.

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