Some Walvis Bay residents have rejected a proposal by the municipality to introduce shack levies.

Walvis Bay is confronted by a high demand for serviced land, which the council is struggling to provide. As a result, there are reportedly thousands of residents who live in backyard shacks.

In some cases, at Kuisebmond, one plot can have up to 10 families renting backyard shacks that are vulnerable to fire outbreaks.

The Deputy Mayor announced at a public meeting that the council wants to propose the introduction of a shack levy for landowners who have shacks in their yards.

Mutondoka said the council has not decided how much the levy should be but invited ideas from the community.

nbc News understands that the proposed levy could be 12%, which some members of the public have described as unacceptable.

A resident and former Walvis Bay Urban Councillor, Knowledge Ipinge, believes the landowners would increase the rental fees for shack tenants should the proposal go through.

Asked to clarify the proposed introduction of shack levies, the municipality said there is no comment on the issue at this stage.