As flash floods become an increasingly common and dangerous threat across Namibia, Santam Namibia, in partnership with the City of Windhoek, has launched a new flood signage initiative aimed at improving public safety at high-risk river crossings throughout the capital.

Santam, Namibia’s largest short-term insurer, has committed close to N$150 000 towards the installation of critical warning and depth marker signage across flood-prone areas identified by the City’s Emergency and Disaster Risk Management Division.

Franco Feris, Chief Executive Officer at Santam Namibia, said Namibia’s risk landscape had, over the last couple of years, evolved.

“Shifting climate patterns and rapid urbanisation have significantly increased the frequency and intensity of flash floods,” he said.

“The result has been a concerning rise in vehicles and pedestrians being washed away in dry riverbeds during sudden downpours, in some cases leading to loss of life.”

The newly installed signs will serve as a visible reminder of these risks, particularly at the city’s most flood-prone hotspots such as Arrebusch Street (Cimbebasia), Pelican Street (Hochland Park), Nelson Mandela Avenue (Eros), Metje Street (Eros), Erosweg, and Salem Street (Dolam), among others.

Each identified site will feature stacked warning signs and water depth markers designed to be highly visible and weather-resistant, helping to alert motorists and pedestrians when riverbeds become unsafe to cross, and also ensuring that lives are saved during the rainy season (October 2025-March 2026).

Feris added that the initiative demonstrates what can be achieved through effective collaboration between the private sector and local government.

“This is about shared responsibility. The City of Windhoek plays a vital role in identifying risk hotspots, while we bring the resources and risk expertise to help address those risks in a sustainable way.”

Councillor Ndeshihafela Larandja, Mayor of Windhoek and Chairperson of the Local Authority Disaster Risk Management Committee, says the timing of the initiative could not be more critical.

“These flood warning signs will not only help save lives but also reduce the risk of injury and property damage. We are proud to partner with Santam Namibia on this important step towards making our city safer and more resilient.”

While the flood signage initiative represents the immediate focus of the partnership, both parties have indicated that it forms part of a longer-term plan to strengthen community preparedness and disaster risk awareness across Namibia.

Future phases are expected to extend to other regions, including the northern areas of the country, with focus areas including school safety and other localised risk interventions.

The Santam Namibia intervention is modelled on an initiative it launched in South Africa called, the Partnership for Risk and Resilience (P4RR). The objective of P4RR is to build societal resilience through collaboration and partnerships with all spheres of government.

It co-creates initiatives that enhance the institutional capacity of municipalities, especially in managing disaster risks effectively.

Through P4RR, the Santam Group has supported 102 municipalities in South Africa and has touched the lives of over 24 million in South Africa.

This support to municipalities, is in areas such as disaster management, fire services capacity building, targeted risk mitigation initiatives, among others.

Feris said the partnership with the City of Windhoek would in the course of time be replicated in other municipalities across Namibia.

“This is just the beginning of a broader commitment to safeguarding Namibian communities. By supporting initiatives like this one, we aim not only to improve our response to disasters, but to help communities build resilience before disaster strikes,” he said.

In the photo: City of Windhoek Mayor Ndeshihafela Larandja, and Santam Namibia CEO Franco Feris.