OWED: The Oshakati town council is owed about N$60 million by residents.PHOTO: FILE
OWED: The Oshakati town council is owed about N$60 million by residents.PHOTO: FILE

Redforce, Oshakati part ways

Residents urged to settle their accounts
The town council says its partnership with the debt collector had a positive impact on its revenues.
Kenya Kambowe
Redforce Debt Management is currently winding up its operations in Oshakati after its contract with the local authority came to an end in June.

The winding-up period is expected to span six months, meaning that those who have defaulted on their Oshakati municipal accounts must continue to honour the agreements they entered into with Redforce.

The Oshakati town council is currently owed about N$60 million by residents who defaulted on their accounts.

The council’s debt book was N$80 224 301 as of 30 June 2023. By 30 June this this year, the figure had declined to N$60 897 122.

According to a statement issued last week, the town council refuted allegations that Redforce is threatening defaulters and that residents have been informed to sell their properties to pay what is due to the council.

The allegations were posted on the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters’ (NEFF) and Michael Amushelelo’s social media accounts.

“Oshakati town council handed over people's accounts to Redforce. Redforce [added] huge amounts on top of what they owe [the] town council now. Redforce is calling [and] threatening people that they must pay or they must sell their houses to pay what they owe,” the post read.

“Some of [these] people are widows [and] pensioners, they have zero source of income and they have poverty in their houses. The town council disconnected their water for a long time [sic]. Just imagine most of the houses in the location have no water. It is not that people don’t want to pay, they want the town council to remove their accounts from Redforce.”



Settle your account

Providing clarification on the matter, the Oshakati town council refuted the allegations, adding: “These claims suggest misconduct and unfair practices concerning debt collection and management within the town council of Oshakati".

“It is worth putting on record that the customers' outstanding debts have now reached N$60 million, inhibiting the council’s ability to provide essential services. Redforce was appointed through a transparent and competitive public procurement process to recover the arrears from customers with debts of three months or more. The partnership between the Oshakati town council and Redforce had a positive impact on the financial stability of the council," the statement read.

The council added that as from 1 July, no new accounts were handed over to the debt collector.

“Redforce continues to collect accounts that were unsettled as of 30 June. Existing balances at Redforce are capped and additional charges after June do not incur collection fees,” the statement read.

“The council will be responsible for disconnecting the services of defaulters," it said, adding that customers with unsettled accounts as of 30 June must arrange payment with Redforce. "Once settled, their files will be returned to the council.”



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Namibian Sun 2024-11-07

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