Cheetah Cement

Cheetah Cement — cement producer that attempted merger with Ohorongo Cement, now planning closure and retrenchment of 87 workers.

2022-04-242026-11-06

News reports

Order a long-term news report on Cheetah Cement

Every mention in the Namibian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.

What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

July 2026
3 JulWindhoek Observer
Cheetah Cement was approved to merge with Ohorongo Cement by the minister
Source
“The merger between Ohorongo Cement (Whale Rock Cement (Pty) Ltd) and Schwenk Namibia's Cheetah Cement has been approved by the minister of industries, mines and energy, Modestus Amutse, subject to strict conditions aimed at safeguarding employment, competition, and local ownership in the cement sector.”
Ohorongo-Cheetah Cement merger approved with conditions
March 2026
26 MarThe Namibian
Cheetah Cement notified Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations of intent to retrench 87 employees by 15 April
Source
“Cheetah Cement has notified the Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations of its intent to retrench 87 employees by 15 April, citing financial losses, import restrictions, and a blocked merger.”
Cheetah Cement retrenchment talks ongoing
22 MarThe Namibian
Cheetah Cement faces closure and retrenching about 87 employees by 15 April
Source
“Cheetah Cement faces closing operations and retrenching about 87 employees by 15 April, following sustained financial losses, regional import restrictions, and a prohibited merger attempt.”
Cheetah Cement faces closure and 87 retrenchments after NaCC blocks Ohorongo merger attempt

Politics

IPC demands accountability for unlawful cement merger decision

The News

Independent Patriots for Change parliamentarian Ferdinand Hengombe is demanding to know whether industries, mines and energy minister Modestus Amutse will be held liable for costs arising from his decision to overturn the Namibian Competition Commission's rejection of the proposed Cheetah Cement and Ohorongo Cement merger, following a High Court judgment that found Amutse's decision unlawful and invalid.

8 October 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 8 October

IPC demands accountability for unlawful cement merger decision
Independent Patriots for Change parliamentarian Ferdinand Hengombe is demanding to know whether industries, mines and energy minister Modestus Amutse will be held liable for costs arising from his decision to overturn the Namibian Competition Commission's rejection of the proposed Cheetah Cement and Ohorongo Cement merger, following a High Court judgment that found Amutse's decision unlawful and invalid.
8 October 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 7 October

Mining firms use contractors to cut costs, union warns
Namibia's mining sector is increasingly using contractors and temporary workers instead of permanent employees to lower labour and operational costs, according to the Mineworkers Union of Namibia. Union secretary general George Ampweya warned that the practice has eroded decent work conditions, reduced wages and job security for outsourced workers, and called for regulation of outsourcing and equal pay for work of equal value.
7 October 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 6 October

High Court blocks cement merger after minister missed objections
The High Court overturned the industries minister's approval of a merger between Whale Rock Cement and Ohorongo Cement after the minister admitted an administrative error meant objections from interested parties never reached him. The Namibian Competition Commission had previously prohibited the merger due to concerns about job losses and a monopoly in the cement market.
6 October 2026 · The Namibian →
High Court overturns minister's approval of cement merger
Justice James Robertson Devittie overturned the minister of industries, mines and energy's June 2026 decision to approve a proposed cement merger, restoring the Namibian Competition Commission's original prohibition of the transaction. The court declared the minister's determination unlawful and invalid following an urgent review application by ITE Products, Pharaoh Cement, and the Construction Industries Federation of Namibia.
6 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Monday 5 October

Parliamentary committee flags labour concerns at five mining regions
A Parliamentary Standing Committee has raised concerns over outsourcing, job insecurity, occupational safety, retrenchments and inadequate worker benefits following oversight visits to mining operations in Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, Erongo, //Kharas and Khomas regions, and recommends strict monitoring of subcontractors.
5 October 2026 · New Era →

Thursday 24 September

Minister defends cement merger approval amid High Court lawsuit
Industries minister Modestus Amutse has defended his June 2026 decision to allow Whale Rock Cement to acquire Schwenk Namibia—which owns the majority of Ohorongo Cement—saying he weighed employment protection against the disadvantages of business closure. A South African customer, iTE Products, has sued him in the High Court, claiming to have submitted objections that the minister said he did not receive, with the case scheduled for 1 October.
24 September 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 21 September

South African firm sues Amutse over Ohorongo Cement merger approval
A South African company, iTe Products, is challenging Minister Amutse's October 1 approval of a merger between Whale Rock Cement and Schwenk Namibia (which owns Ohorongo Cement), arguing that the minister's claim of receiving no objections was false. iTe opposes the deal because it would combine Namibia's two cement companies into a monopoly, a concern the Competition Commission had previously upheld in blocking the merger last July.
21 September 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 28 July

Namibia Competition Commission rejects Whale Rock–Schwenk cement merger
The Namibia Competition Commission has objected to the proposed acquisition of Schwenk Namibia by West China Cement (Whale Rock Cement), based on stakeholder input and competition law concerns including market concentration.
28 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 13 July

Construction federation opposes approved Ohorongo-Cheetah cement merger
The Construction Industries Federation of Namibia has called for the Ohorongo-Cheetah cement merger to be withdrawn following Industries, Mines and Energy Minister Modestus Amutse's decision to overturn the Namibia Competition Commission's block on the transaction, warning it threatens competition, local contractors, and SMEs despite conditions aimed at preventing job losses and preserving production.
13 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 3 July

Ohorongo-Cheetah Cement merger approved with operational conditions
Ohorongo Cement says its merger with Schwenk Namibia's Cheetah Cement, approved with conditions by the minister of industries, mines and energy, will not result in job losses but will involve staff relocation from Otjiwarongo to Otavi and increased local ownership requirements.
3 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Thursday 26 March

Cheetah Cement plans to retrench 87 workers by April
Cheetah Cement has notified the Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations of its intent to retrench 87 employees by 15 April, citing financial losses, import restrictions, and a blocked merger. The notice is a declaration of intent subject to ongoing consultations with the ministry and the Mineworkers Union of Namibia, and the final number of retrenchments may change.
26 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 22 March

Cheetah Cement to close, retrench 87 workers after merger blocked
Cheetah Cement plans to close operations and retrench approximately 87 employees by 15 April, citing sustained financial losses, regional import restrictions, and a blocked merger attempt with Ohorongo Cement. The Namibian Competition Commission refused the merger in July 2025, and the company says it has been loss-making for eight years; the union is negotiating to find alternatives to the retrenchments.
22 March 2026 · The Namibian →