RedForce Debt Management

Debt collection firm contracted by multiple Namibian municipalities, including Windhoek and Walvis Bay, facing legal challenges and contract terminations.

2024-07-022026-10-06

What’s been said

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

June 2025
24 JunThe Namibian
RedForce allegedly abused its powers to disconnect residents' water without prior notification
Source
“Shipwikineni argues that RedForce has been abusing its powers to disconnect residents' water without prior notification.”
Shipwikineni demands termination of RedForce
January 2025
28 JanThe Namibian
RedForce Debt Management had contracts highlighted in petition for concerns about maladministration
Source
“The petition specifically highlighted concerns regarding maladministration, corruption, alleged slow investigations by the ACC and RedForce Debt Management contracts.”
Residents demand answers on pending corruption cases

Politics

Walvis Bay given September 30 deadline to act on RedForce contract

The News

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 →

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 →
Minister halts Walvis Bay RedForce debt collection contract
Urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa has ordered Walvis Bay Municipality to halt its debt collection agreement with RedForce Debt Management, recover allegedly wasted funds, and investigate the contract's execution. The municipality's management committee chairperson confirmed the agreement is invalid because it was not executed in accordance with the Local Authorities Act — it was signed by technocrats rather than the required chief executive officer and management committee chairperson.
28 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Monday 3 August

City of Windhoek ends RedForce debt collection contract
The City of Windhoek has ended its contract with RedForce Debt Management and will handle debt collection internally, resuming administration of accounts and charging 20% interest per annum on overdue accounts.
3 August 2026 · New Era →
RedForce loses City of Windhoek debt collection contract
RedForce Debt Management's contract with the City of Windhoek has expired, reflecting a broader shift by local authorities away from outsourced municipal debt collection.
3 August 2026 · Namibian Sun →

Sunday 2 August

City of Windhoek resumes debt collection after RedForce contract ends
The City of Windhoek says it will resume collecting overdue municipal debts through its internal resources following the expiration of its contract with RedForce Debt Management, and will continue charging 20% interest per annum on overdue accounts together with prescribed disconnection fees.
2 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 29 July

City of Windhoek resumes debt collection after RedForce contract ends
The City of Windhoek's debt collection contract with RedForce ends on 31 July 2026, after which the municipality will resume internal debt collection through its Debt Collection Division until a new service provider is appointed. The /Khomas Rate Payers and Residents Association has warned residents not to enter into new payment arrangements with RedForce beyond the contract expiry date.
29 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Monday 20 July

Minister blasts Henties Bay acting CEO over water crisis
Urban and Rural Development Minister James Sankwasa has criticized the Henties Bay municipality's acting chief executive officer as the "poorest of poor performers" amid a water crisis where residents cannot purchase prepaid water after the service provider suspended vending in June over a contractual dispute. The minister's concerns centre on the stalled implementation of an approximately N$27 million prepaid water meter project and has formally objected to the acting CEO's appointment as substantive CEO.
20 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Monday 11 May

City of Windhoek reports debt reduction amid service criticism
The City of Windhoek announced a reduction in debt from N$888 million to N$869 million, but residents criticized the municipality for spending heavily on salaries while service delivery remains poor, citing issues with waste collection and road repairs.
11 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Tuesday 24 March

High Court dismisses RedForce debt agency's N$9.2 million claim
Judge Orben Sibeya dismissed RedForce Debt Management's claim against the Rundu Town Council for N$9.2 million, finding that RedForce failed to prove the council repudiated their agreement and that the agency itself breached the contract by consistently failing to meet its monthly debt collection target of N$5 million. The judge ordered RedForce to pay the council's legal costs.
24 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 3 March

RedForce sues Rundu council for N$9.2m; judgment delayed
Debt collection firm RedForce Debt Management is suing the Rundu Town Council for N$9.2 million over an alleged breach of a 2020 debt-collection agreement, claiming the council sabotaged its work and prevented it from meeting targets; the town council denies the allegations and contends RedForce failed to meet performance targets first. A High Court judgment scheduled for Friday has been postponed to 13 March.
3 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 2 February

Minister Sankwasa criticized for hypocrisy on accountability standards
The Namibian argues that while minister James Sankwasa has gained popular support for firing town councillors and demanding accountability, he has undermined his credibility by owing NamWater over N$170,000 for five years and attacking a journalist who exposed the debt. The opinion piece warns that Sankwasa's selective enforcement of accountability standards and bullying of media oversight reveals his calls for public accountability as populist hypocrisy.
2 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 30 January

Politicians criticise Presidency for not condemning minister's xenophobic remarks
Politicians have criticised the Office of the President for failing to hold Minister James Sankwasa accountable after he made xenophobic comments about a Zimbabwean journalist, with opposition figures and analysts arguing the Presidency should have condemned his remarks rather than deflecting responsibility to the relevant line ministry.
30 January 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 28 January

Minister Sankwasa criticised for xenophobic remarks against journalist
Urban and Rural Development Minister James Sankwasa faced backlash after making xenophobic comments about journalist Tracy Tafirenyika, who is Zimbabwean-born, following her article reporting that he owed NamWater N$174,000 in bills. Media bodies, civil society, and opposition politicians condemned Sankwasa's remarks as discriminatory attacks on a journalist doing her job, with calls for him to retract and apologise.
28 January 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 25 January

Minister Sankwasa owes NamWater N$174,000 amid debt criticism
Urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa owes N$174,000 to NamWater, drawing accusations of hypocrisy after he recently pressured councillors to settle outstanding bills. Sankwasa attributed the debt to an account inherited from his late mother and said he is attending to its settlement, while critics argue he should have led by example.
25 January 2026 · The Namibian →