The City of Windhoek' Public Relations Manager, Joshua Amukugo, says the Khomas Regional Council has not yet officially pronounced itself on the city council's budget that according to the council was illegally approved.

Amukugo said the city council only heard from the media about the Khomas council's stance but is yet to get an official communication. "Once we get something, we will let you know," he said, adding that he would not comment on the matter as they (Windhoek City Council) were also not invited to the press conference that took place on Monday.

The Khomas Regional Council says the Windhoek City Council illegally passed the annual budget without proper procedures to increase electricity tariffs and other services. At a press conference, the Khomas Regional Council Management Committee said it resolved at its ordinary council meeting to recall the budget for Windhoek.

This was contrary to Amukugo's statement last week that the Khomas Regional Council was consulted in March this year for input on the proposed city budget.

The Khomas Regional Council's Management Committee Chairperson Zulu Shitongeni said in a statement on Monday that they had learned with shock from the local media that the Windhoek City Council approved the budget without consulting the regional council as required and stipulated in the Local Authority Act.

That Act states: "Every management committee and every village council shall in each financial year cause to be prepared, after consultation with (the) regional council in whose area the local authority in question is situated, a statement of its estimated income and expenditure during the following financial year."

The Windhoek City Council approved a budget of N$3.8 billion on June 27 and announced that electricity would go up by 13 percent while water tariffs were increased by 15 percent. Property tax and solid waste management also increased by 15 percent.