Khomas schools without electricity

A number of schools are without electricity after the City of Windhoek suspended service for non-payment last week.

The ministry of education has spent N$68 million so far to keep the lights on in the Khomas Region, its executive director Sanet Steenkamp told Namibian Sun this week.

Steenkamp described the situation as undesirable but stressed that the ministry was working to have the schools' electricity reconnected. This included vetting invoices to establish how much was owed by the schools that have been disconnected.

“I can only apologise for the situation. The regional director for the Khomas Region is liaising with the City of Windhoek. We at the head office are vetting invoices to verify,” she said.

“We will have to find means to settle the invoices.”

Steenkamp could not indicate when the ministry intended to settle its outstanding utility bills, saying that the Khomas regional council had been asked for help.

“It is difficult to commit. I only have an overall amount. We are working with the chief regional officer of the Khomas Region to verify the payments,” Steenkamp said.

She added that schools simply had to start cutting costs and cited the Augustineum Secondary School in Khomasdal as one that was able to reduce its electricity expenses.

“We should look at what should be done to reduce wastage,” she said.

No comment could be obtained from the City of Windhoek.

Electricity to schools was also cut last August over a N$30 million debt several Windhoek schools owed the municipality.

Windhoek mayor Fransina Kahungu said in January that the City was owed N$935 million by residents. Of the total, N$663 million had been outstanding for more than 30 days.

OGONE TLHAGE