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Thursday, 6 August 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Thursday, 6 August 2026
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Namibian press · Person

Frans Enkali

Also known as: Spokesperson of the Ondonga Traditional Authority Frans Enkali

Ondonga Traditional Authority spokesperson who spoke on alignment between Namibia's 2024 no-fault divorce law and customary practices.

2023-05-312026-08-06

What’s been said

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

  1. January 2026
  2. New Era

    Acting CEO Frans Enkali emphasised that all outdoor advertisements must be regulated in accordance with the council's advertising policy

    Source

    In a media statement issued on Tuesday, acting CEO Frans Enkali emphasised that all outdoor advertisements within the council's jurisdiction must be regulated in accordance with the council's advertising policy.

    Tsumeb warns against illegal outdoor advertising … issues Valentine’s Day deadline
  3. June 2024
  4. The Namibian

    Frans Enkali said he was not informed of sponsorship of the outfit

    Source

    Speaking on behalf of the Ondonga traditional king, spokesperson Frans Enkali said he was not aware of the sponsorship.

    NTB defends buying top brass N$60 000 outfits for carnival
  5. May 2023
  6. The Namibian

    Frans Enkali is Spokesperson of the Ondonga Traditional Authority

    Source

    Spokesperson of the Ondonga Traditional Authority Frans Enkali speaks to Desert Radio on the recent supreme court decision recognising same sex marriages consummated outside the country.

    Spokesperson of the Ondonga Traditional Authority Frans Enkali
Society

Tsumeb municipality appeals labour ruling for former firefighter

The News

Tsumeb Municipality is challenging a Labour Commissioner's ruling that ordered it to reinstate a former firefighter assistant and pay him N$108 000 in outstanding wages. The arbitrator found the dismissal procedurally unfair and ordered reinstatement from 1 May 2026 and payment by 28 May, but the municipality has not complied and plans to appeal to the High Court.

15 July 2026 · The Namibian

Wednesday 15 July

  1. Tsumeb municipality appeals labour ruling for former firefighter

    Tsumeb Municipality is challenging a Labour Commissioner's ruling that ordered it to reinstate a former firefighter assistant and pay him N$108 000 in outstanding wages. The arbitrator found the dismissal procedurally unfair and ordered reinstatement from 1 May 2026 and payment by 28 May, but the municipality has not complied and plans to appeal to the High Court.

    15 July 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 30 June

  1. Church and traditional leaders oppose candle vigils as foreign practice

    Church and traditional leaders in Namibia have rejected the growing practice of candle-lighting vigils to honour the deceased, arguing that the practice is foreign and has no basis in biblical teaching or customary law, with concerns raised that adopting such practices could erode Namibia's identity.

    30 June 2026 · New Era

Tuesday 16 June

  1. Tsumeb councillor denies N$80,000 bribery allegation

    Tsumeb councillor Sem Nghuulikwa has denied soliciting N$80,000 from a tenderer in exchange for an N$800,000 housing contract, calling a leaked WhatsApp screenshot "AI-generated" and a politically motivated smear campaign. The alleged chat, posted by businessman Nico Kaiyamo, appears to show Nghuulikwa offering 10 houses and requesting a sum to share with town engineer Pedro Manuel.

    16 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Monday 15 June

  1. Tsumeb CEO appointment approved but not yet formally commenced

    The Minister of urban and rural development approved Calista Schwartz-Gowases's appointment as Tsumeb municipality CEO effective 1 June 2026, but she has not yet received a formal letter of appointment and has not commenced work. The appointment faced internal council dispute over procedural irregularities, with some councillors raising concerns about deviation from the interview panel's recommendation.

    15 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Sunday 14 June

  1. Cultural norms and apartheid legacy force men to suffer silently

    Traditional leaders say cultural norms, historical injustices, and societal expectations have contributed to many men remaining silent about abuse and emotional distress, citing apartheid-era labour systems that separated fathers from families and left boys without male role models.

    14 June 2026 · The Namibian

Wednesday 10 June

  1. Traditional leaders say new no-fault divorce law aligns with customary practices

    Traditional leaders have responded to Namibia's new Dissolution of Marriages Act 2024, which replaced the fault-based divorce system with a no-fault regime based on irretrievable breakdown and came into operation on 3 June. Ondonga Traditional Authority spokesperson Frans Enkali says customary authorities traditionally did not focus on blame in marriage endings and already distinguished between jointly acquired assets and inherited property, practices that align with the law's aims to move away from adversarial proceedings.

    10 June 2026 · The Namibian

Thursday 4 June

  1. Traditional Authorities Act permits community removal of chiefs

    The Traditional Authorities Act allows community members to remove chiefs or heads from office if there is sufficient reason and the process follows customary law. This contradicts a recent statement by the minister of urban and rural development that chiefs can only be removed through royal family processes.

    4 June 2026 · The Namibian

Saturday 28 March

  1. Namibian communities shift from punishment to support for unwed pregnancies

    A new Oshiwambo-language book explores how Aawambo and other communities have moved away from historical harsh penalties for out-of-wedlock pregnancies toward restorative approaches shaped by Christianity, legal systems, and evolving social norms. Church leaders and traditional authority representatives now advocate for compassion, education, and practical support rather than stigma, while acknowledging that traditional practices once required harsh discipline but have evolved to consider individual circumstances.

    28 March 2026 · The Namibian

Friday 13 February

  1. Cremation debate divides Namibian religious and cultural leaders

    Cremation proposals in Namibia have sparked sharp disagreement between those who see it as a practical and affordable alternative to rising funeral costs and those—including religious and traditional leaders—who reject it as culturally foreign and contrary to their beliefs. An undertaker acknowledged that widespread cremation would threaten the burial services industry, while some residents support it as a way to reduce funeral expenses and inequality.

    13 February 2026 · New Era

Wednesday 21 January

  1. Traditional leaders serve rural areas from Windhoek despite legal residency rules

    Several Namibian traditional leaders, including chiefs and headmen, are governing their rural communities while residing in Windhoek, contrary to the Traditional Authorities Act No. 25 of 2000, which requires them to live within their communal areas. They justify this practice by citing the effectiveness of deputies and local committees, though legal scholars note such violations may warrant removal from office.

    21 January 2026 · The Namibian

Thursday 8 January

  1. Tsumeb sets February deadline for illegal advertising removal

    Tsumeb Municipality is urging all businesses, institutions, organisations and individuals to remove illegally displayed advertisements on council land or public spaces by 14 February 2026, warning that non-compliant signage will be removed without liability.

    8 January 2026 · New Era

Frans Enkali — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute