Local authorities Act

Also known as: Local Authorities Act (1992)

2024-06-152026-10-20

News reports

Order a long-term news report on Local authorities Act

Every mention in the Namibian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

March 2026
22 MarThe Namibian
The local authorities Act and the Disaster Risk Management Act clearly establish the legal responsibilities of town councils in Namibia to protect communities from disasters such as floods, contaminated water, fires, and drought. …
Kehemu Sidamenena Flooding: Council Must Turn the Tide
February 2026
6 FebNew Era
… The Local Authorities Act requires that certain decisions be made in consultation with residents and stakeholders. …
On the spot with Albertina Nakale – ‘Corruption is our number one enemy’
January 2026
28 JanNew Era
… She wrote that there is no provision in the Local Authorities Act, the Code of Conduct, or any adopted standing rule that prohibits a councillor from wearing a cap during an induction or council-related engagement. …
Disconnecting pensioners’ water discouraged
27 JanThe Namibian
… Presentations are expected to focus on several priority areas, including the implementation of existing legal and policy frameworks governing housing provision, such as the Local Authorities Act and the Decentralisation Enabling Act. …
Parliamentary committee holds housing consultations with major local authorities at Rundu
27 JanThe Namibian
… Sankwasa says local authorities are creations of government but are required by law to raise revenue to supplement their finances, a responsibility outlined in the Local Authorities Act and the Regional Councils Act. …
Sankwasa vows to settle water debt
June 2024
15 JunThe Namibian
… In terms of the Local Authorities Act (1992), land is administered by municipalities and/or the village councils in such areas. …
The Rechsstaat Principle and Namibia: The German Approach

Business

Walvis Bay council votes on terminating RedForce debt contract

The News

The Walvis Bay Municipal Council was scheduled to vote on terminating its RedForce Debt Management contract following pressure from the urban and rural development minister, who directed the municipality to halt the agreement, recover allegedly wasted funds, and investigate its implementation. The council's decision comes after the Attorney General found the contract to be flawed and not valid, and after it was determined the agreement was not signed in accordance with municipal law.

7 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Wednesday 7 October

Walvis Bay council votes on terminating RedForce debt contract
The Walvis Bay Municipal Council was scheduled to vote on terminating its RedForce Debt Management contract following pressure from the urban and rural development minister, who directed the municipality to halt the agreement, recover allegedly wasted funds, and investigate its implementation. The council's decision comes after the Attorney General found the contract to be flawed and not valid, and after it was determined the agreement was not signed in accordance with municipal law.
7 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Monday 28 September

Walvis Bay given September 30 deadline to act on RedForce contract
The Minister of Urban and Rural Development has directed Walvis Bay municipality to act by 30 September on the attorney general's legal opinion regarding its contract with RedForce Debt Management, which he says is flawed because it was not co-signed as required by law. The directive follows a High Court order on 3 September that barred the municipality and RedForce from disconnecting water supply to Wena Investments, which had sued over debt collection fees and disconnections.
28 September 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 8 September

Minister rejects Divundu CEO contract renewal citing poor performance
Minister of urban and rural development James Sankwasa has rejected the Divundu Village Council's request to renew chief executive Athanasius Maghumbo's contract for another five years, citing failure to submit required budgets, audit reports and financial statements, and overall performance not meeting required standards. The council has appealed the decision, disputing the assertion about budget submission failures.
8 September 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 12 August

Windhoek official questions use of N$112 million to regional council
Fransina Kahungu, a former Windhoek mayor, has questioned how the City of Windhoek's estimated N$112 million transferred to the Khomas Regional Council over the past five financial years has been spent, saying residents lack evidence of how the funds improved their lives. The regional council says the money has financed clinics, schools, constituency projects and other development initiatives.
12 August 2026 · New Era →

Thursday 16 July

City of Windhoek denies halt to informal trading permits
The City of Windhoek has denied allegations that its CEO's office instructed officials to stop issuing new informal trading permits, saying applications continue to be processed under existing regulations. The denial follows complaints from traders and residents in Dorado Park about City Police preventing informal traders from operating and the City refusing to issue trading letters.
16 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Tuesday 7 July

Sankwasa warns councils over unauthorised spending practices
The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has flagged growing unauthorised spending by regional and local authorities, with minister James Sankwasa warning that some councils are bypassing legal budgeting frameworks, exceeding approved budgets and spending on unapproved projects. Sankwasa said the trend has resulted in mishandling of public funds, diverting resources from essential services and undermining service delivery and public trust.
7 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 25 June

Windhoek may seek legal changes for fibre commercialisation project
The City of Windhoek says it may seek legislative amendments to the Local Authorities Act after the Supreme Court ruled the municipality lacks legal authority to provide telecommunications services. The city views fibre commercialisation as essential to its smart city ambitions.
25 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 22 June

Supreme Court finds City of Windhoek lacks telecom service powers
The Supreme Court has ruled that the City of Windhoek does not have the power to provide telecommunication services to its residents, finding that the Local Authorities Act does not grant local authorities in Namibia such powers. The judgment upheld the High Court's 2023 decision to set aside the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia's award of a comprehensive telecommunications licence to the city.
22 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 11 June

LPM members question party after Keetmanshoop mayor removed
The Landless People's Movement withdrew Keetmanshoop mayor Melody Swartbooi from her position without disclosing a reason, prompting supporters to question their party loyalty and claim the removal violated legal procedures under the Local Authorities Act.
11 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 7 May

Cattle grazing in Grootfontein cemetery raises community concerns
Residents in Grootfontein expressed concern after cattle were spotted grazing in a cemetery, risking damage to graves and tombstones. Community activist Pablo Benjamin called for the municipality to enforce proper fencing and by-laws to prevent livestock from entering burial grounds and to hold cattle owners accountable.
7 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 22 March

Town council ignores Kehemu Sidamenena flooding for eight years
Residents of Kehemu Sidamenena have endured seasonal flooding for nearly eight years due to the area's natural topography, with water accumulating and damaging homes, businesses, and public health. The article argues that despite repeated reports to the town council, no meaningful intervention has occurred, and questions why similar flooding in wealthier areas like Queens Park prompted swift ministerial action and N$108 million in funding, while this informal settlement remains neglected.
22 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 6 February

Katima Mulilo NPD councillor prioritises fighting corruption, reform
Re-elected NPD councillor Simasiku Mukendwa outlined his priorities for Katima Mulilo Town Council, citing corruption and maladministration as the council's "biggest enemies" and pledging to reform governance systems, improve accountability, and tackle long-standing service-delivery challenges including roads and sewer infrastructure through gradual, realistic progress.
6 February 2026 · New Era →

Wednesday 28 January

Minister criticises water disconnections of pensioners over arrears
Urban and Rural Development Minister James Sankwasa has criticised local authorities for disconnecting water to pensioners and low-income residents over small debts while allowing businesses owing large amounts to continue receiving services. He stressed that water disconnections should not target poor and vulnerable residents and called on councils to apply fairness and humanity when enforcing credit control measures.
28 January 2026 · New Era →

Tuesday 27 January

Parliamentary committee consults municipalities on housing provision challenges
A parliamentary standing committee on urban and rural development is holding consultative meetings at Rundu with five major local authorities to assess land delivery and housing provision. The consultations aim to gather evidence on how housing is planned and delivered, identify constraints, and propose practical measures to address Namibia's estimated housing backlog of 300,000 to 700,000 units.
27 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Minister pledges to pay N$174,000 water debt, calls for government compliance
Minister of urban and rural development James Sankwasa has vowed to settle his outstanding water bill of N$174,000 and urged government ministries, departments, and businesses to pay debts owed to local authorities. Sankwasa warned that many local authorities face financial distress and inability to maintain basic services due to unpaid accounts from government institutions.
27 January 2026 · The Namibian →