As of last month, the City of Windhoek's total debtors' book stood at N$1.2 billion.

According to its spokesperson, Lydia Amutenya, after a public notice that households would be disconnected if they didn't pay up, clients have been flocking in to make arrangements to avoid being inconvenienced.

The disconnection is focusing on accounts in arrears of 30 days or more.

Amutenya reiterated that the credit control policy is usually underestimated and the residents do not take it seriously, hence the decision.

"When people are reminded like this, they end up coming to the City of Windhoek and making arrangements, and when they try to figure out how we can help with these issues."

All clients in arrears will be affected, Amutenya stated.

"We are not targeting certain accounts; we are actually going to disconnect everyone who owes, regardless of whether they are business, government, private sector, or SOS. We are going for everyone that owes the city."

Amutenya said Redforce Debt Management will make it easier for the city to collect what is owed to it.

"The reason why we engage Red Force is because we struggle to get our money, and without it, it is due to control, so we have to find other means to get that money back to the council. As mentioned before, before Red Force, we had all these arrangements, but they didn't bear fruit."