Windhoek City Police — law enforcement agency conducting patrols, arrests, and crime prevention operations in Windhoek, recently engaged in vendor enforcement and fake taxi crackdowns.
Legal aid directorate lawyer Eva Maria Nangolo, arrested on theft and obstructing justice charges related to items allegedly taken from a Dis-Chem store, has been granted bail of N$2 000 after six days in custody. The prosecution withdrew its initial opposition to bail during her Windhoek Magistrate's Court appearance on Friday.
Why it matters
Legal aid lawyer's bail granted after theft charges highlights the personal accountability expected even within justice institutions.
Legal aid directorate lawyer Eva Maria Nangolo, arrested on theft and obstructing justice charges related to items allegedly taken from a Dis-Chem store, has been granted bail of N$2 000 after six days in custody. The prosecution withdrew its initial opposition to bail during her Windhoek Magistrate's Court appearance on Friday.
Namibian police have warned that illegal taxi operators will face fines starting at N$2,000 and arrest upon a third transgression. The warning follows concerns raised by the Namibia Public Passenger Transport Association about 3,450 illegally operating cars since 2018, particularly in Rundu in Kavango East.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services acknowledged systemic failures at the Windhoek Central Mental Health Centre, citing inadequate infrastructure and human resource deficits that contributed to poor supervision. The admission followed a patient escaping and a fatal police shooting incident.
The third annual biker awareness gathering in Windhoek aimed to sensitise the public about motorcycle safety. Organisers highlighted that motorcyclists are vulnerable road users and urged all riders to undergo training at accredited riding schools due to increased traffic and more powerful bikes.
Three men were arrested after Windhoek City Police responded to a housebreaking in progress in Auasblick on 23 April 2026 and found them inside a vacant property. All three have been denied bail and will remain in custody until their next court appearance on 22 June 2026.
Wernhil Park shopping complex has distanced itself from an incident in which a shopper was allegedly prevented from entering the mall by a security official acting on instruction from a Windhoek City Police officer. The mall's management stated it has no dress code and welcomes all shoppers, respecting what consumers choose to wear.
A man described as mentally ill entered Windhoek City Police's Khomasdal office claiming he had been assaulted, then took a vehicle key from a table and drove a police car out of the yard. The vehicle crashed into a residential property on Richardine Klopper Street, causing damage to both the car and the house, though no injuries were reported.
Visual artist Ndako Nghipandulwa has created a 12-work series titled "Job is Job" using discarded road signs to honour construction workers and celebrate the dignity of everyday work. The Windhoek City Police warned that altering public road signs is illegal, though Nghipandulwa's works were made from signs already being discarded and not in active use.
Street vendors operating at Windhoek's Shoprite supermarket and taxi rank have been forcibly evicted by City Police following warnings to vacate the area. The vendors, who claim to hold valid permits and have paid the municipality, say they have no alternative legal trading spaces and face an uncertain future as they struggle to provide for their families.
Over 20 vendors have been removed from Windhoek's central business district by city police, with traders reporting lost income and confiscated stock. City police say they are enforcing compliance with identification requirements and rules against illegal trading, while vendors describe hardship and appeal for leniency.
Criminals posing as taxi drivers are exploiting peak-hour congestion in Windhoek to rob commuters, prompting intensified joint operations by City Police and NamPol. Authorities urge commuters to use an official taxi verification app before boarding and report suspicious vehicles.
The Namibian Police Force, along with Windhoek City Police and other law enforcement agencies, will conduct a six-month nationwide crime prevention operation to enhance public safety and curb crime across the country. Major General Elias Mutota said police officers will be deployed to crime hotspots, with the best-performing unit receiving a trophy.
Residents of Grysblok in Windhoek have raised alarm over a bridge whose railings collapsed nearly a year ago, creating a gap that forces pedestrians and schoolchildren to walk dangerously close to traffic. The City of Windhoek spokesperson says the department has assessed the area and will replace the railings; residents also cite inadequate street lighting and rising theft as additional safety concerns.
OneAfrica journalist Maria Hamukwaya, who went missing after sending a distressing message from a taxi in Windhoek on Friday, has been found and is giving a statement to police. The Windhoek City Police confirmed the taxi's registration number was fake.
OneAfrica journalist Maria Hamukwaya was reported missing after sending a distressing message to her manager on 30 January saying she felt unsafe in a taxi in Windhoek and feared abduction; her phone has been switched off and authorities have been notified to search for her.