CoW's account system under magnifying glass
Civil case continues in High Court on Thursday
Stad Windhoek neem stappe om kragmeters reg te stel wat nie die werklike verbruik meet nie.
The Windhoek Municipality’s calculation and collection of levies for water and electricity supply services will appear before Judge Hannelie Prinsloo in the High Court this coming Thursday.The City Council and all council members, the chief executive, the head of finance, the auditor-general, the Electricity Control Board (ECB), the registrar of deeds, the Master of the High Court and the Minister of Urban and Rural Development are listed as defendants.
The hearing was postponed on 28 November until this week due to the application for legal aid by the eighth claimant Anna Januarie. The legal aid directorate has appointed Henry Shimutwikeni as her legal representative. Shimutwikeni also represents Elizabeth Beukes.
The rest of the residents who approached the High Court are Meriam Uiras, Pinehas Gaiseb, Eben Gomeb, Bernard Murere, Dorothea Nanus and Katrina Shivute.
Community activist Shaun Gariseb is appealing to all “victims” of the City of Windhoek’s (CoW) “flawed billing system” to be present in court at 14:00 on Thursday to assist the claimants and their legal team.
He believes the municipality is robbing Windhoek residents through irregular levies and then handing over the residents to illegally appointed debt collectors. He is referring to a recent notice from the municipality that is believed to serve as an admission of guilt.
'Issues addressed"
The City said last Wednesday: “We are addressing issues regarding electricity meters that indicate estimated consumption [of electricity] due to the inability to obtain actual meter readings”.
The notice further states: “The necessary corrections will be made to ensure accurate and regular meter readings going forward.”
Gariseb says: “We already know they are charging us too much because even when we close our homes for the whole of December, our bills come out as if there are people living in an empty house.”
He also cites the ECB’s order that prepaid electricity supplies should not be disconnected, which municipal officials are reportedly ignoring.
Gariseb is insisting that the outcome of an investigation into Windhoek’s municipal billing system be made public and that residents be informed of how much they will be refunded.
This week’s civil status hearing continues while Namibian police are busy investigating a criminal complaint.
Last year, when Gariseb and other Windhoek residents filed a case with Namibian police, he called on fellow “victims” to also go and give statements at their nearest police station. – [email protected]