Council Meeting Update - 03 March 2026 | Walvis Bay

May 13
3 min read

This Ordinary Council Meeting covered two requests for sponsorships, some administrative matters and a number of land leases, rezonings, subdivisions and alienations. There were no motions, questions, petitions, interviews or matters arising from previous minutes.

While the Council Meeting itself did not cover any of the pressing issues (think landfill, roads, sewerage, housing), our Councillor Sharon Roodt reports that the Council is working behind the scenes to find solutions.

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

Walvis Bay Council Meeting March 2026 - Video Update

Due to time constraints, we were unfortunately not be able to make a video update for this Council Meeting.

Key Decisions at a Glance

Moving Ahead:	Council approved moving money from the Meersig Extension 4 budget to help kick-start infrastructure work in Narraville Extension 17. Several land and housing applications moved forward, including rezonings and subdivisions in Narraville, Langstrand and Walvis Bay Extension 8. Council approved rental tariffs for the new Ekutu Informal Market stalls and said charging can start immediately while gazetting continues. A lease for warehousing on Farm 38 was approved for Manica Group Namibia. Land was reserved for a proposed Dangote tank farm project behind Dune 7, subject to environmental studies, financial proof and regular progress updates. Council approved N$100,000 sponsorship support for the 2026 Namib Desert Jazz Festival, with conditions that local artists and SMEs benefit.
Delayed:	Appointments to several internal committees and outside bodies were sent back because councillors said they did not get enough time to study the CVs and documents. Some appointments still went ahead because of urgency around upcoming Erongo RED meetings, but not all positions were finalized. A final decision on a possible sister-city partnership with Philadelphia in the USA was delayed until Council receives more details, including costs and expected benefits.
Needs Follow-Up:	Organisers of the Jazz Festival must submit a full report after the event. Councillors also raised questions about ticket income, profits and past accountability reports. Lithon Property Developers received one last 30-day extension to provide proof of payment or a bank guarantee for erven in Narraville Extension 13. If they fail, the old sale approval falls away. Council wants to review the standard N$10,000 rehabilitation deposits charged on large land leases after concerns that the amount is too low if land is damaged. The Dangote project still depends on environmental approvals, feasibility studies and proof that funding is available.

What This Means for Residents

For residents, this meeting showed that Council is pushing ahead with new housing, business and infrastructure projects, especially in Narraville and the industrial areas. The new Ekutu market tariffs also mean the informal market is getting closer to full operation. Some projects could bring jobs and business activity if they move ahead as planned.

At the same time, councillors raised concerns about transparency and oversight. There were complaints about late documents, questions about sponsorship spending, and worries that lease conditions may not protect the town enough if companies leave land damaged behind. Residents should keep an eye on whether promised reports, environmental studies and payment guarantees are actually delivered in the coming months.