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Sunday, 6 September 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Sunday, 6 September 2026
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Namibian press · Organization

Erongo Regional Council

Also known as: ERC

Regional government body addressing wildfires, education crises, and service delivery across Erongo Region in Namibia.

2023-08-162026-09-06

What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

  1. September 2026
  2. Namibian Sun

    Erongo Regional Council held an emergency disaster risk management committee meeting in Swakopmund over veld fires

    Source

    The Erongo Regional Council held an emergency disaster risk management committee meeting in Swakopmund last week over veld fires it says have reached an alarming stage after burnin...

    Erongo fires reach ‘alarming stage’
  3. July 2026
  4. Windhoek Observer

    Erongo Regional Council deployed available resources and secured Namibian Air Force intervention for firefighting support

    Source

    While recognising the scale of the crisis, the Council successfully secured the intervention of the Namibian Air Force, whose assistance has been instrumental in supporting containment efforts and protecting affected communities.

    Air Force deployed as Dâures battles devastating wildfires
  5. New Era

    Erongo Regional Council welcomed initiatives aimed at improving food security and creating temporary employment opportunities

    Source

    Meanwhile, the Erongo Regional Council has welcomed initiatives aimed at improving food security and creating temporary employment opportunities for vulnerable residents.

    Govt intervenes with N$10m cash-for-work
  6. Informanté

    Erongo Regional Council hosted Erongo Annual Career Fair in Walvis Bay and Swakopmund from 13-17 July 2026

    Source

    The career fair, hosted by the Erongo Regional Council in collaboration with the Directorate of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture and municipalities in the region, took place in Walvis Bay and Swakopmund from 13 to 17 July 2026.

    Namibian Navy promotes defence careers at Erongo career fair
  7. Windhoek Observer

    Erongo Regional Council issued an appeal for responsible fire management as wildfires threaten Daures and Karibib

    Source

    The Erongo Regional Council has issued an appeal for responsible fire management as active wildfires continue to threaten parts of the Daures and Karibib Constituencies.

    OBSERVER COASTAL | Erongo Regional Council urges fire caution as wildfires grip Daures and Karibib
  8. Windhoek Observer

    Erongo Regional Council extended special commendation to Namibian Airforce and other firefighting personnel

    Source

    A special commendation was extended to the Namibian Airforce, alongside farmers, volunteers, traditional leaders, and other stakeholders who have participated in efforts to contain the wildfire and limit its devastating impact.

    OBSERVER COASTAL | Erongo Regional Council urges fire caution as wildfires grip Daures and Karibib
  9. June 2026
  10. New Era

    Erongo Regional Council instructed all public primary schools to immediately halt all new learner enrolments

    Source

    Ntelamo instructed all public primary schools within Swakopmund and Walvis Bay circuits to immediately halt all new learner enrolments.

    Pre-primary, grade one enrolment suspended at Swakopmund, Walvis Bay
  11. Windhoek Observer

    Erongo Regional Council held Erongo Regional Education Conference 2026 at Swakopmund Hotel & Entertainment Centre

    Source

    The Erongo Regional Education Conference 2026, held at the Swakopmund Hotel & Entertainment Centre under the themeIntrospection of the Declining State of Education in Erongo Region: A Strategic Framework to Enhance Educational Performance, has brought together regional councillors, school principals, teachers, community leaders, and officials from the education ministry to diagnose the root causes of underperformance and agree on practical solutions.

    OBSERVER COASTAL | Erongo education stakeholders confront decline in academic performance
  12. Windhoek Observer

    Erongo Regional Council invested N$8.5 million to guarantee uninterrupted water supply to Uis

    Source

    The Governor confirmed that Uis has been officially upgraded from a settlement to village status, making it the eighth local authority in the region, with the regional council investing N$8.5 million to guarantee uninterrupted water supply.

    OBSERVER COASTAL | Erongo SORA decries 33.7% education pass rate and rising road fatalities
  13. Windhoek Observer

    Erongo Regional Council's Directorate of Education will consult on distribution of sanitary pads to vulnerable girls and women across the region

    Source

    /Goagoses accepted the sanitary pads, which will be distributed to vulnerable girls and women across the region in consultation with the Directorate of Education within the Erongo Regional Council.

    OBSERVER COASTAL | Local businessman donates 1,500 sanitary pads to Erongo governor’s office

Tuesday 1 September

  1. Erongo veld fires escalate to alarming stage

    The Erongo Regional Council held an emergency disaster risk management committee meeting in Swakopmund to address veld fires it says have reached an alarming stage.

    1 September 2026 · Namibian Sun

Thursday 20 August

  1. Erongo governor demands accountability for officials' absence at arts festival

    Erongo governor Nathalia /Goagoses criticised senior education officials, regional leaders, and the Erongo Regional Council chairperson for skipping the opening of the Erongo Arts and Culture Regional Festival 2026 in Karibib, and said she has expressed her disappointment to education minister Sanet Steenkamp, demanding an explanation for their no-shows.

    20 August 2026 · Namibian Sun

Wednesday 29 July

  1. Wildfires destroy hundreds of hectares in Dâures constituency

    Wildfires continue to destroy hundreds of hectares of grazing land in Dâures constituency, with emergency teams and communities battling to contain the blaze. Dry, windy weather has complicated containment efforts, but coordinated action involving the Namibian Air Force, local farmers, traditional authorities, and volunteers has helped suppress the fires.

    29 July 2026 · The Namibian

  2. Air Force deployed to help control Dâures wildfires

    Devastating wildfires in Dâures Constituency have destroyed grazing land and threatened communities, prompting the Namibian Air Force to assist in suppression efforts. The Dâures Constituency Office is coordinating an emergency response with the Erongo Regional Council, central government, traditional authorities, farmers and volunteers.

    29 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Wednesday 22 July

  1. Ministry allocates N$10m for cash-for-work programme

    The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has allocated N$10 million towards a Food/Cash-for-Work Programme for the current financial year to provide temporary income support to vulnerable households and create community assets, in response to Namibia's unemployment rate of 36.9% and youth unemployment of 44.1%.

    22 July 2026 · New Era

Tuesday 21 July

  1. Namibian Navy recruits at Erongo career fair

    The Namibian Navy engaged approximately 3,000 learners from Erongo schools at the Erongo Annual Career Fair in Walvis Bay and Swakopmund from 13–17 July 2026, presenting recruitment pathways, training programmes, and career opportunities in maritime defence.

    21 July 2026 · Informanté

  2. Erongo restarts school admissions applications for 2027

    The Erongo Directorate of Education has relaunched applications for 2027 pre-primary and Grade 1 admissions after suspending the initial registration process to assess school infrastructure and develop a fairer placement strategy. Applications for Swakopmund and Walvis Bay circuits will run from 21 to 27 July.

    21 July 2026 · The Namibian

Thursday 16 July

  1. Erongo Regional Council warns residents to prevent wildfires

    The Erongo Regional Council has issued an appeal for responsible fire management as active wildfires continue to threaten the Daures and Karibib Constituencies. The council warned of the devastating impact uncontrolled fires can have on communities, livestock, wildlife, grazing land, infrastructure, and the natural environment, and urged residents to refrain from burning vegetation without necessary precautions and to report fire outbreaks immediately.

    16 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Thursday 2 July

  1. Rössing Uranium marks 50 years of operation in Erongo

    The world's longest-running open-pit uranium mine celebrated its golden jubilee with a gala dinner in Swakopmund, bringing together government officials, community leaders, and industry partners. The event highlighted the mine's deep ties with the Erongo Region and its commitment to continued operations.

    2 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Wednesday 1 July

  1. Langer Heinrich donates off-road ambulance to Erongo health services

    Langer Heinrich Uranium has donated a fully equipped 4×4 off-road ambulance to the Ministry of Health and Social Services Erongo Directorate to strengthen emergency healthcare services in Arandis and surrounding communities. The donation brings the total number of ambulances provided by LHU to the directorate to seven, with a combined value exceeding N$6.1 million, supporting services across Arandis, Omaruru, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and Henties Bay.

    1 July 2026 · Informanté

Tuesday 30 June

  1. Pre-primary demand outstrips school capacity in Namibia

    Overcrowded classrooms and rising demand for pre-primary placements are straining public schools, with some schools accommodating around 45 pupils when the recommended ratio is 35 pupils per teacher. The education directorate in Erongo region has temporarily suspended new pupil enrolments at public primary schools in Swakopmund and Walvis Bay.

    30 June 2026 · The Namibian

Monday 29 June

  1. Pre-primary and grade one enrolment suspended in Swakopmund, Walvis Bay

    Enrolment for pre-primary and grade 1 learners at government schools in Swakopmund and Walvis Bay has been suspended following an influx of hundreds of parents camping outside schools to secure placements. The suspension will allow the Directorate of Education to assess current enrolment levels and verify available school capacities.

    29 June 2026 · New Era

Thursday 25 June

  1. Erongo education stakeholders address region's falling exam performance

    Education leaders from Erongo Region gathered in Swakopmund to tackle the region's declining academic performance, prompted by results showing it ranked ninth nationally at Ordinary Level and eleventh at Advanced Subsidiary Level in 2024 and 2025, a fall from its former status as a leading education region.

    25 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Thursday 18 June

  1. Erongo Governor reports 33.7% pass rate, unemployment drop

    Erongo Governor Nathalia /Goagoses delivered her State of the Region Address, reporting that the region's unemployment rate dropped from 32% to 30% over the past year while acknowledging challenges including a 33.7% education pass rate and rising road fatalities.

    18 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer

  2. N$4.2 million mobile NaTIS truck launched in Omatjete

    The Minister of Works and Transport officially launched a N$4.2 million mobile NaTIS truck in Omatjete on Monday, offering vision testing, biometric capturing, learner licence testing, and vehicle licence issuances to residents. The mobile unit is presented as cost-effective compared to building conventional Registering Authority centres.

    18 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Thursday 11 June

  1. Local businessman donates 1,500 sanitary pads to Erongo governor

    Gideon Tshomokuti of Benguela Petroleum Supplies donated 1,500 sanitary pads, valued at nearly N$30,000, to the Office of the Erongo Governor in collaboration with JaDa Pads. The donation followed a courtesy visit during which Tshomokuti discussed the company's operations and future plans with Governor Nathalia /Goagoses, with focus on regional development and youth unemployment.

    11 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Thursday 21 May

  1. Erongo Regional Council launches training to improve procurement capacity

    The Erongo Regional Council has launched a five-day procurement training programme aimed at addressing delays and administrative problems affecting project implementation and service delivery. The training brought together members of the procurement management unit, bid evaluation committees and procurement committees to tackle weak procurement capacity and procedural challenges that have delayed projects and affected budget implementation.

    21 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Monday 18 May

  1. Ministry investigates Omaruru double plot allocations and governance failures

    The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has launched an investigation into Omaruru Municipality over allegations of double plot allocations, governance failures, and irregular accommodation arrangements involving the chief executive, as well as failure to hold regular council meetings. Minister James Sankwasa said some allegations appear valid while others stem from misunderstandings, and an internal audit is pending to determine the scope of the issues.

    18 May 2026 · The Namibian

Thursday 7 May

  1. Erongo Regional Council registers disabled persons for services

    The Erongo Regional Council is conducting a data-capturing exercise for persons with disabilities from 5 to 8 May 2026 to update its regional database and improve the coordination and delivery of programmes for disabled people in the region.

    7 May 2026 · Informanté

Wednesday 6 May

  1. Minister opens computer lab, pledges digital education expansion

    The Education Minister inaugurated a computer laboratory at Petrus !Ganeb Secondary School in Uis, donated by Swakop Uranium Foundation with 20 computers and networking infrastructure. The minister reaffirmed government commitment to digital education through partnerships while acknowledging persistent technology access gaps in rural areas.

    6 May 2026 · Informanté

Tuesday 21 April

  1. Erongo under-20 football team wins Nedbank Newspaper Cup

    Erongo's under-20 football team won the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup, defeating Kunene 2-1 at Keetmanshoop. Team manager Daniel Mouton attributed the victory to determination, unity, and support from stakeholders including the governor's office.

    21 April 2026 · The Namibian

Monday 13 April

  1. ErongoRED raises regional electrification rate to 79 percent

    Electricity distributor ErongoRED says it has expanded electrification access across the Erongo region, with a combined urban and rural rate now at about 79%, reflecting steady infrastructure rollouts and projects underway in areas including Harambe, DRC, Karibib and Usakos. The utility is working to align with national development priorities under Vision 2030 while facing challenges including copper theft, which costs about N$5 million annually.

    13 April 2026 · New Era

  2. Namibian start-up converts desalination brine into industrial chemicals

    Green Brine Technologies, founded in early 2023, aims to turn desalination waste into valuable industrial chemicals using renewable energy, with pilot testing expected this year and full-scale commercialisation targeted for 2029. The company projects creating over 120 permanent jobs by 2029 and contributing up to US$7.2 million in annual tax revenue by 2031.

    13 April 2026 · New Era

  3. Walvis Bay housing shortage drives soaring electricity consumption

    Rapid population growth and proliferation of informal backyard housing in Walvis Bay have driven electricity consumption to record levels, with the suburb of Kuisebmond alone consuming 54% of Swakopmund's total power use. The municipality faces increasing pressure to provide affordable housing and land, with approximately 23 000 backyard shacks housing 42 000 people and thousands more on waiting lists.

    13 April 2026 · New Era

Sunday 12 April

  1. Fishing workers petition for jobs after years of unemployment

    Former United Fishing Enterprises workers and others in Namibia's fishing industry have submitted petitions to the Erongo governor, demanding stable employment after years without work since 2018. They cite the pilchard moratorium and quota allocation systems as obstacles to permanent jobs and call for government intervention to create opportunities in the sector.

    12 April 2026 · The Namibian

Friday 10 April

  1. Omaruru Town Council seeks N$28m for informal water infrastructure

    Omaruru Town Council needs an estimated N$28 million to upgrade water infrastructure in informal settlements, as it faces ageing systems, vandalism of communal water points, and rising demand linked to rapid urbanisation. Recent borehole drilling has stabilised overall water supply, but the council continues to tackle illegal connections and plans phased upgrades of asbestos pipelines while seeking government support.

    10 April 2026 · New Era

  2. Omaruru needs N$28m to upgrade water infrastructure

    Omaruru Town Council requires an estimated N$28 million to upgrade water infrastructure in informal settlements as it grapples with ageing systems, drought-related challenges, and rapid urbanisation. While recent borehole drilling has stabilised overall supply, the council faces ongoing issues with vandalism, illegal connections, and the need to replace asbestos pipelines, with funding remaining a critical constraint.

    10 April 2026 · The Namibian

Thursday 2 April

  1. Omaruru advances housing, market projects amid infrastructure limits

    The Omaruru Town Council is developing housing, market, and electrification projects to improve living conditions, but faces constraints from land servicing limitations and bulk infrastructure capacity, particularly a reliance on septic systems that restricts town expansion.

    2 April 2026 · New Era

Tuesday 31 March

  1. Erongo netball targets competitive performance at national cup

    Erongo's regional netball team is aiming to improve on last year's showing at the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup, with team manager Mathilde Nicolo emphasizing focus on youth development, structured training, and reaching the knockout stages. The squad features mostly new players and has received support from regional institutions and government, though Nicolo appeals for backing from local businesses.

    31 March 2026 · The Namibian

Thursday 26 March

  1. Erongo governor urges stronger action for rural development

    Erongo Governor Natalia /Goagoses called for improved living conditions in rural communities at a regional development forum, emphasizing that development policies must translate into real change and address challenges including water scarcity, youth unemployment, and limited farming opportunities. The Regional Council chairperson stressed the importance of partnerships and coordination among government and private sector stakeholders in improving service delivery and creating economic opportunities.

    26 March 2026 · New Era

Erongo Regional Council — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute