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Sunday, 21 June 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Sunday, 21 June 2026
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Namibian press · Person

Johannes Shimbilinga

Also known as: Walvis Bay mayor Johannes Shimbilinga

Mayor of Walvis Bay addressing infrastructure, waste management, and governance challenges in the municipality.

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What’s been said

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

  1. June 2026

  2. Windhoek Observer

    Walvis Bay mayor Johannes Shimbilinga signed regulatory framework establishing permit system for informal trading

    Source

    “The crackdown forms part of a broader regulatory framework introduced in March, which established a permit system for informal trading signed by Walvis Bay mayor Johannes Shimbilinga.”

    OBSERVER COASTAL | Walvis Bay orders informal traders in CBD to vacate

  3. Windhoek Observer

    Walvis Bay mayor Johannes Shimbilinga led the first Mayoral Clean Up Campaign in Walvis Bay

    Source

    “Led by Walvis Bay mayor Johannes Shimbilinga, the coordinated day transformed public spaces across the coastal town, with clean-up activities focused mainly in Kuisebmond, Narraville, and the town centre.”

    OBSERVER COASTAL | Nearly 1 000 bags of rubbish collected in Walvis Bay

  4. Windhoek Observer

    Shimbilinga described the clean-up campaign as a positive first step

    Source

    “Despite the ongoing challenges, Shimbilinga described the clean-up campaign as a positive first step, adding that lasting environmental change depends on continued personal responsibility and community participation.”

    OBSERVER COASTAL | Nearly 1 000 bags of rubbish collected in Walvis Bay
  5. April 2026

  6. Windhoek Observer

    Johannes Shimbilinga has pledged to act on landfill fires covering parts of the town

    Source

    “Walvis Bay mayor Johannes Shimbilinga has pledged to act on landfill fires that have covered parts of the town in smoke.”

    OBSERVER COASTAL | Walvis Bay mayor vows to extinguish landfill fires

  7. Windhoek Observer

    Johannes Shimbilinga announced an immediate ban on tyre dumping at the landfill site

    Source

    “He announced an immediate ban on tyre dumping at the site.”

    OBSERVER COASTAL | Walvis Bay mayor vows to extinguish landfill fires

  8. New Era

    Johannes Shimbilinga acknowledged the challenges, noting that the area falls under State jurisdiction

    Source

    “Walvis Bay mayor Johannes Shimbilinga acknowledged the challenges, noting that the area falls under State jurisdiction.”

    Live at Walvis’ troubled dumpsite
  9. March 2026

  10. New Era

    Walvis Bay mayor Johannes Shimbilinga revealed discrepancies including absence of general manager for 17 years and no internal audits

    Source

    “Walvis Bay mayor Johannes Shimbilinga, during a consultation meeting with residents on Monday, revealed that they unearthed a series of discrepancies when they took office last year, shortly after the Regional Councils and Local Authorities elections.”

    Walvis’ shambolic governance

  11. The Namibian

    Walvis Bay mayor Johannes Shimbilinga has called on government to intervene in tyre burning

    Source

    “Walvis Bay mayor Johannes Shimbilinga has called on the government to intervene.”

    Burning tyres ‘a cancer risk’ at Walvis Bay
  12. February 2026

  13. New Era

    Walvis Bay mayor Johannes Shimbilinga is committed to rebuilding and addressing the town's challenges in sanitation, housing and roads

    Source

    “The new Walvis Bay council is committed to rebuilding and addressing the town's challenges in sanitation, housing and roads.”

    On the spot with Eveline de Klerk – Rebuilding Walvis Bay

  14. New Era

    Walvis Bay mayor Johannes Shimbilinga expressed commiserations over loss of lives

    Source

    “Walvis Bay mayor Johannes Shimbilinga expressed his commiserations, saying he was saddened by the loss of lives.”

    Another Walvis shack fire kills two
Society

Walvis Bay orders informal traders to vacate CBD by Wednesday

The News

The Municipality of Walvis Bay has ordered informal traders operating in the town's Central Business District to cease operations and vacate by 17 June 2026, with law enforcement and cleanup operations to begin Friday for non-compliant traders. The order is part of a regulatory framework introduced in March that requires informal traders to obtain permits and relocate to designated trading zones.

18 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Thursday 18 June

  1. Walvis Bay orders informal traders to vacate CBD by Wednesday

    The Municipality of Walvis Bay has ordered informal traders operating in the town's Central Business District to cease operations and vacate by 17 June 2026, with law enforcement and cleanup operations to begin Friday for non-compliant traders. The order is part of a regulatory framework introduced in March that requires informal traders to obtain permits and relocate to designated trading zones.

    18 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Thursday 4 June

  1. Walvis Bay collects nearly 1,000 bags rubbish in mayoral campaign

    More than 990 bags of rubbish were collected in Walvis Bay during the first Mayoral Clean Up Campaign, led by mayor Johannes Shimbilinga and joined by community members, businesses, volunteers, and municipal teams. The initiative, held in observance of World Biodiversity Day, focused on public spaces in Kuisebmond, Narraville, and the town centre, as the town faces growing frustration over sanitation and waste management challenges.

    4 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Thursday 30 April

  1. Walvis Bay mayor pledges action on persistent landfill fires

    Walvis Bay mayor Johannes Shimbilinga has pledged to address landfill fires that have blanketed parts of the town in smoke, citing public health and air quality concerns. He attributed the fires to unauthorised activity and tyre burning, announced an immediate ban on tyre dumping, and said the municipality is working to transfer land within Dorob National Park to improve site management.

    30 April 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Thursday 9 April

  1. Walvis Bay dumpsite becomes informal settlement amid health risks

    A controlled landfill in Walvis Bay has transformed into an informal settlement housing over 100 shacks and more than 300 people, with residents reporting illegal tyre burning, undercover prostitution, domestic violence, and drug activity. The situation raises serious environmental and health concerns for surrounding communities, prompting authorities to engage stakeholders on de-proclaiming the portion within Dorob National Park to enable better municipal management.

    9 April 2026 · New Era →

Thursday 19 March

  1. Walvis Bay Municipality plagued by seventeen years of governance failures

    Walvis Bay Municipality has been without an internal audit, performance management system, or general manager for 17 years, with further gaps including poorly designed job descriptions, a recently established procurement unit, and reports of staff conducting business with the municipality. Mayor Johannes Shimbilinga revealed these systemic governance failures to residents and called for reforms to address deep-rooted institutional problems affecting service delivery.

    19 March 2026 · New Era →

  2. Illegal tyre burning at Walvis Bay poses health risks

    Residents and health professionals in Walvis Bay are demanding government intervention over toxic smoke from illegal tyre burning on state land, with a local doctor reporting increased cases of smoke inhalation and concerns about cancer risk, particularly affecting neighbourhoods like Kuisebmand and Narraville at night. The municipality says its hands are tied because the land is government property, and has appealed to the environment ministry for action.

    19 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 27 February

  1. Walvis Bay council commits to infrastructure, housing and sanitation improvements

    Mayor Johannes Shimbilinga says the new Walvis Bay council is prioritizing service delivery, road repairs, housing development and waste management over the next five years to address aging infrastructure and growing demand from urban migration. Projects include road rehabilitation through a Road Fund Administration agreement, 233 completed government houses at Green Valley, and procurement of additional waste management vehicles and equipment.

    27 February 2026 · New Era →

Thursday 12 February

  1. Shack fire kills woman and child in Walvis Bay

    A fire in a Tutaleni shack in Walvis Bay killed a 20-year-old woman and her 2-year-old niece, and left 14 others homeless. The fire spread to nearby structures despite efforts by residents and the Fire Brigade to contain it; investigations are underway to determine the cause.

    12 February 2026 · New Era →

Friday 30 January

  1. Walvis Bay mayor outlines council's infrastructure and housing priorities

    Mayor Johannes Shimbilinga reaffirmed the council's commitment to improving roads, housing, sanitation and community facilities as part of its five-year development agenda. The authority has completed road rehabilitation on 3rd Street and Allen Dean Martin Street, with Railway Street rehabilitation expected to finish by March 2026, and has completed 233 low-cost houses valued at N$37 million under the Green Valley government housing project.

    30 January 2026 · New Era →

Monday 19 January

  1. Water reconnected at Walvis Bay primary school after governor intervention

    About 500 learners at High Hope Primary School in Walvis Bay returned to classes after water was reconnected following intervention by Erongo governor Natalia /Goagoses. The school had faced serious sanitation problems that forced learners to cross busy roads to access facilities at an adjacent school, prompting the governor to work with local officials to restore water and address safety concerns.

    19 January 2026 · New Era →

Johannes Shimbilinga — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute