Walvis Bay stops RedForce from cutting water – News

Walvis Bay Municipal Council says it has stopped RedForce Debt Management from disconnecting water supplies to residents whose accounts are in arrears, while it seeks an amicable solution to a contractual issue involving the company.

Representing the city, attorney Richard Metcalfe said in a statement Tuesday that the city would “reserve disconnecting accounts for its employees.”

RedForce obtained an order preventing the municipality from terminating its service contract.

“In the meantime, Walvis Bay City Council has given instructions that the disconnection and reconnection of municipal water services and municipal water readings will be reserved exclusively as part of the duties of its employees.

“No debt collector will undertake such duties for and on behalf of Walvis Bay Municipality,” the statement reads.

Metcalfe says the municipality would also launch an investigation into the awarding of the contract to the debt management company.

Meanwhile, Walvis Bay residents and councilors say they are unhappy about the Windhoek High Court order halting the termination of the city’s contract with RedForce Debt Management.

RedForce issued a statement in response to the ruling, saying: “The public is hereby informed that all operations at our Walvis Bay office will resume with effect immediately following the court order issued by the High Court of Namibia this morning, in which the court declared that the Municipality of Walvis Bay is hereafter prohibited and prevented from implementing or continuing to implement its decision of April 23, 2024.

“Accounts turned over for collection will remain in RedForce until they are fully settled.”

According to the statement, residents and/or debtors are encouraged to cooperate with the debt collection process.

All collection methods used by RedForce are in accordance with the municipality’s credit control policy, the company states.

The council’s April 23 decision at a council meeting to end RedForce services with immediate effect would be overturned by the court order issued by Judge Thomas Masuku, according to the statement.

The unopposed motion to terminate Walvis Bay Municipality’s contract with RedForce was brought to the council by Councilor Ephraim Shozi.

Afterward, Councilman Ryan Gordon urged the public to remain calm, noting that there would have been a meeting on Tuesday, which would be followed by a statement from the city attorney.

“The councilors were upset when they received the news about the court order, because their motion was not opposed. However, the community can rest assured.

“We will keep our promise to solve this problem. It’s not about politics, it’s about the promise we made to the community. They should stay calm. We are positive and continue to defend our motion,” she said earlier this week.

Resident representative Elvis Goseb said this week that residents were disappointed but would continue to try to get rid of RedForce.

“As residents we are very disappointed with the High Court ruling.

“As residents we still feel that the appointment was not made legally. No procedure was followed and we still believe RedForce should leave Walvis Bay due to the high charges and inhumane conduct.

“We remain steadfast in opposing RedForce operations,” he said.

Walvis Bay Mayor Treviño Forbes said this week he could not comment as the matter is still before the courts.