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Monday, 8 June 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Monday, 8 June 2026
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Namibian press · Person

Joel Angula

Also known as: former cabinet minister and writer Helmut Angula

Former NAMDIA protection officer accused of murder, robbery, and theft in connection with a January 2025 diamond heist at the state-owned company.

2023-10-092026-06-08
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What’s been said

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

  1. January 2026

  2. Informanté

    Joel Angula is accused of murder and diamond theft

    Source

    “VEIKO Alexander, the defence lawyer representing Joel Angula (46), who is accused of murder and diamond theft, commenced with his cross-examination of State witness Chief Inspector Simeon Nghilalulwa, during which he suggested that the State prosecutors had exaggerated the charges.”

    Defence lawyers attack “common purpose” charges in NAMDIA bail

  3. Informanté

    Angula is charged with counts of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, attempted murder, uncut diamonds, and POCA contravention

    Source

    “Angula, a former police officer, and the second accused, Sam Shololo (50), are charged with counts of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, two counts of attempted murder, possession of uncut diamonds, and contravention of sections of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA) for the diamond heist that took place at Namib Desert Diamonds (NAMDIA) on 18 January 2025.”

    Defence lawyers attack “common purpose” charges in NAMDIA bail

  4. Informanté

    Joel Angula stands accused of theft and possession of unpolished diamonds worth N$4.7 million and murder of NAMDIA Head of Security Francis Eiseb

    Source

    “Angula stands accused of theft and possession of unpolished diamonds worth N$4.7 million, which were found at his residence, as well as the murder of NAMDIA Head of Security, Francis Eiseb, after he and other accused allegedly carried out a robbery at NAMDIA in January 2025.”

    Plans of NAMDIA heist discussed at Wanderers Sports Field

  5. The Namibian

    Joel Angula is charged with murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and related offences

    Source

    “Angula (46), who is a former police officer, and a second accused, Sam Shololo (50), are charged with counts of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances and possession of uncut diamonds, and also two counts of attempted murder, in connection with the heist carried out at the Namdia head office.”

    Windhoek court hears Endjala’s pistol killed Namdia guard during diamond robbery

  6. The Namibian

    Joel Angula denied guilt on all charges

    Source

    “Angula told the court in December that he is denying guilt on all of the charges.”

    Windhoek court hears Endjala’s pistol killed Namdia guard during diamond robbery
  7. February 2025

  8. The Namibian

    Joel Angula allegedly went to open a door connecting Namdia staff parking lot and office building

    Source

    “Angula allegedly then went to open a door that connects the Namdia staff parking lot and the office building.”

    The Cohen Connection: Namdia plot takes another twist
  9. January 2025

  10. The Namibian

    Co-accused Joel Angula appeared in court on charges of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of uncut diamonds, attempted murder

    Source

    “Co-accused Joel Angula (45) appeared in court last week on charges of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, the possession of uncut diamonds, and two counts of attempted murder.”

    Second suspect in Namdia diamond robbery released from hospital
Society

Former NAMDIA officer appeals bail denial in diamond theft case

The News

Joel Angula, a former protection officer at state-owned NAMDIA, has appealed his bail denial in the High Court, arguing through his lawyer that the State has not established a chain of custody for diamonds found at his residence and that the magistrate ignored legal provisions for a fine. Angula faces eight counts, including murder, in connection with an armed robbery at NAMDIA where diamonds valued at N$335.6 million were allegedly stolen; 13 parcels valued at about N$4.8 million were found at his home, while over N$290 million of the stolen diamonds remain unrecovered.

Why it matters

Former NAMDIA officer appeals bail denial in N$335 million diamond heist, tracking high-stakes accountability in state resource theft.

20 May 2026 · Informanté →

Wednesday 20 May

  1. Former NAMDIA officer appeals bail denial in diamond theft case

    Joel Angula, a former protection officer at state-owned NAMDIA, has appealed his bail denial in the High Court, arguing through his lawyer that the State has not established a chain of custody for diamonds found at his residence and that the magistrate ignored legal provisions for a fine. Angula faces eight counts, including murder, in connection with an armed robbery at NAMDIA where diamonds valued at N$335.6 million were allegedly stolen; 13 parcels valued at about N$4.8 million were found at his home, while over N$290 million of the stolen diamonds remain unrecovered.

    20 May 2026 · Informanté →

Sunday 5 April

  1. Prosecution of Namdia robbery suspects gets court postponement

    The Windhoek Magistrate's Court has postponed to 18 June the case against Joel Angula and Sam Shololo, accused in a fatal January 2025 armed robbery at state-owned Namdia in which diamonds valued at N$335.6 million were stolen. The state was granted more time to complete parallel investigations across multiple jurisdictions and for the prosecutor general to decide on final charges.

    5 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 20 March

  1. Cross-border investigations delay Namdia diamond heist trial

    The trial of two suspects in the Namdia diamond heist, in which N$345 million in diamonds were stolen and two people died, has stalled as police conduct joint investigations across multiple jurisdictions in Noordoewer, Keetmanshoop, and Windhoek. The Prosecutor General's final decision on whether to proceed to trial has been delayed pending completion of these investigations and recovery of related dockets.

    20 March 2026 · Informanté →

Saturday 28 February

  1. Ex-G4S guard appears in court for Namdia diamond heist

    Samuel Shipanga, a former G4S security guard implicated in the theft of diamonds worth N$315 million from state-owned Namdia, appeared in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court on charges of theft. His case has been joined with that of Joel Angula, a former Namdia protection officer, with proceedings postponed to 19 March 2026.

    28 February 2026 · Informanté →

Tuesday 24 February

  1. Former Namdia guard denied bail in N$335m diamond heist case

    Magistrate Helvi Shikalepo refused bail for Joel Angula, a former Namdia security officer arrested in connection with a January 2024 armed robbery at the company's Windhoek headquarters in which diamonds valued at N$335.6 million were stolen and a security officer was killed. Shikalepo ruled that although the state has a prima facie case against Angula, his continued detention is in the interest of justice pending trial.

    24 February 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Diamond heist suspect denied bail by Windhoek magistrate

    Former Namib Desert Diamonds security officer Joel Angula was denied bail in connection with a N$315-million diamond heist at Namdia's premises last year. Magistrate Atutala Shikalepo ruled that the interest of justice dictates his continued detention pending trial, finding a prima facie case against him despite his assertions that he poses no flight risk and the State's case is weak.

    24 February 2026 · New Era →

  3. Windhoek court denies bail to Namdia heist murder accused

    Magistrate Atutala Shikalepo has denied bail to Joel Angula, accused of theft and murder in connection with a January 2025 diamond heist at state-owned Namdia, citing the interests of justice and ongoing investigations into the recovery of N$295 million in missing diamonds.

    24 February 2026 · Informanté →

Saturday 7 February

  1. Bail ruling due for man accused in N$330 million Namdia heist

    Joel Angula, a 46-year-old ex-protection officer accused of involvement in the Namdia diamond theft and the deaths of two people, will learn the outcome of his bail application on 23 February. The State has opposed bail citing severity of charges and fears of abscondment and witness interference, while Angula's lawyer argues the evidence is circumstantial.

    7 February 2026 · Informanté →

  2. Namdia robbery accused awaits bail ruling in February

    Joel Angula, a former Namdia security officer charged with murder and robbery in connection with a January 2024 heist at the Namdia head office in Windhoek in which a security officer was killed, will learn on 23 February whether he will be released on bail. The state opposes bail, arguing he may abscond or interfere with witnesses, while his defence counsel argues the state's case is weak.

    7 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 28 January

  1. Joel Angula bail hearing continues on Friday

    Final submissions in the bail application of Joel Angula, accused of murder, robbery, and theft of diamonds at Namdia, will be heard on Friday after the State's case closed on the previous hearing. Angula denies all charges and claims he was tied up during the robbery incident, while a police witness testified that Angula was absent for three hours after the crime.

    28 January 2026 · New Era →

Thursday 22 January

  1. Police say Namdia murder accused will interfere with witnesses

    During a bail hearing, a Namibian Police chief inspector testified that Joel Angula would likely interfere with witnesses and investigations if released, citing his prior misleading statements and knowledge of witnesses. The inspector also stated that 452 of 512 diamonds robbed from Namdia remain missing and could be disposed of or used for further crimes if the accused is freed.

    22 January 2026 · New Era →

Wednesday 21 January

  1. Defence challenges "common purpose" charges in NAMDIA diamond heist case

    Defence lawyer Veiko Alexander cross-examined a State witness in the bail hearing for Joel Angula, a former police officer accused of murder and diamond theft in a January 2025 NAMDIA heist, questioning whether the "common purpose" charges are justified and arguing that attempted murder counts should be treated as assault charges instead.

    21 January 2026 · Informanté →

  2. Police reveal NAMDIA heist planning at sports field

    A state witness in the bail application for Joel Angula, accused of the January 2025 NAMDIA robbery that netted over N$300 million in diamonds, revealed that Angula and Max Endjala held planning meetings at Wanderers Sports Field, where they discussed security vulnerabilities and execution details, including tying up guards and placing a getaway vehicle. Police found a written heist plan in Endjala's vehicle detailing activities that were later carried out at the crime scene, and DNA evidence linked Angula to a blanket left at the premises.

    21 January 2026 · Informanté →

Tuesday 20 January

  1. Court hears Endjala's pistol killed Namdia guard in diamond heist

    Police ballistics evidence presented in Windhoek court shows that a 9mm pistol registered to Max Endjala, one of the alleged robbers who later shot himself, was used to kill Namdia security officer Francis Eiseb during an armed robbery at the company's Windhoek premises in January 2024. Former police officer Joel Angula and Sam Shololo are charged with murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and other counts related to the heist in which diamonds valued at about N$335.6 million were stolen.

    20 January 2026 · The Namibian →

Joel Angula — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute