Namibia Minute.
Monday, 8 June 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Monday, 8 June 2026
Windhoek—:—London—:—New York—:—Beijing—:—
Namibian press · Organization

Namib Desert Diamonds

Also known as: Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) Pty Ltd · Namib Desert Diamond · Namib Desert Diamonds (Ltd) Pty (Namdia) · Namib Desert Diamonds Pty Ltd · Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) · Namibia Desert Diamonds

State-owned diamond enterprise subject of January 2025 armed robbery in Windhoek in which N$314–345 million in diamonds were stolen and two employees killed.

2022-11-182026-06-08

What’s been said

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

  1. April 2026
  2. The Namibian

    Namib Desert Diamonds had armed robbery occur at head office in January last year

    Source

    The state has been given more time to make a decision about the prosecution of the two men accused of involvement in a fatal armed robbery at the head office of the state-owned company Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) in January last year.

    State gets extra time for Namdia case decision
  3. March 2026
  4. Informanté

    Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) Pty Ltd had case come to a standstill due to cross-jurisdictional joint investigations delaying Prosecutor General Decision

    Source

    THE Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) Pty Ltd case came to a standstill after it was revealed that cross-jurisdictional joint investigations, which relate to the Namdia diamond heist in the jurisdictions of Noordoewer, Keetmanshoop, and Windhoek, have delayed the rendering of the Prosecutor General Decision (PGD) in the matter.

    Cross-jurisdictional investigations delay Namdia trial
  5. February 2026
  6. Informanté

    Namib Desert Diamonds experienced a heist wherein diamonds worth N$315 million were stolen

    Source

    Samuel Shipanga, former G4S security guard, implicated in the Namib Desert Diamond (Namdia) heist, wherein diamonds worth N$315 million were stolen from the state-owned diamond enterprise, appeared in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court.

    Ex-G4S guard faces court over N$315 million Namdia diamond heist
  7. Informanté

    Namib Desert Diamonds Pty Ltd (Namdia) was subject to diamond heist on 18 January 2025 with N$295 million in diamonds missing

    Source

    Windhoek Magistrate Atutala Shikalepo has denied the granting of bail to Namib Desert Diamonds Pty Ltd (Namdia) diamond theft and murder accused Joel Angula, stating that the interests of justice dictate that the accused remain incarcerated pending the finalisation of investigations, which mainly relate to the recovery of diamonds worth N$295 million that remain missing from the diamond heist that happened on 18 January 2025 at the state-owned diamond company.

    Namdia diamond heist accused denied bail
  8. Informanté

    Namib Desert Diamonds responded that it is not liable for damages the family suffered

    Source

    He said that on 7 March 2025, NAMDIA responded to their client's letter and said: "Our colleague tragically lost his life during the course of employment and while on duty as a Senior Protection Officer. Based on this, we believe that NAMDIA is not liable for any damages the family may have suffered, in particular as per your request."

    Namdia protection officer widow demands close to N$4 million
  9. January 2026
  10. The Namibian

    Namdia employee was killed during an armed robbery at the company's premises

    Source

    The Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) employee killed during an armed robbery at the company's premises in Windhoek last year was shot with a pistol that belonged to one of the alleged robbers, Max Endjala, a police detective testified in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court on Friday.

    Windhoek court hears Endjala’s pistol killed Namdia guard during diamond robbery
  11. New Era

    Namib Desert Diamonds had a diamond robbery at its offices on 18 January 2025

    Source

    The diamond company announced yesterday that the staff member was arrested in relation to the robbery that happened on 18 January 2025.

    Namdia employee arrested in diamond heist case
  12. Informanté

    Namib Desert Diamonds (NAMDIA) announced arrest of one additional staff member in connection with diamond heist

    Source

    THE Namib Desert Diamonds (NAMDIA) state-owned enterprise has announced that an additional staff member has been arrested in connection with the ongoing investigation into the armed diamond heist that occurred at the company's premises on 18 January 2025.

    Namdia announces arrest of one more staff member for diamond heist
  13. January 2025
  14. The Namibian

    Namib Desert Diamonds lost N$350 million worth of diamonds in robbery

    Source

    This comes after Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) lost N$350 million worth of diamonds in a robbery on Saturday.

    Ndeitunga suspects inside job in Namdia heist: Calls for increased vetting of Govt officials
  15. The Namibian

    Namib Desert Diamonds announced that two suspects fled the scene

    Source

    Namdia on Sunday announced that two suspects fled the scene.

    N$1-billion Namdia robbery: Suspects, diamonds, and tragic deaths
Society

Prosecution of Namdia robbery suspects gets court postponement

The News

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

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

Thursday 26 February

  1. G4S claims N$4 200 liability cap in Namdia diamond heist lawsuit

    Security company G4S Namibia says it is only liable to pay N$4 200 in damages in a lawsuit by state-owned Namdia over a January 2025 heist in which 446 parcels of diamonds worth N$314 million were stolen, citing a contractual liability limitation clause. Namdia claims G4S was negligent in failing to prevent the theft despite being present when an employee of G4S participated in the armed robbery.

    26 February 2026 · Informanté

Wednesday 25 February

  1. Synthetic diamonds threaten Namibia's government revenue, experts warn

    Anglo American's sharp devaluation of De Beers to US$2.3 billion reflects the diamond industry's struggles amid competition from lab-grown diamonds, which threatens Namibia's fiscal health since diamonds fund schools, hospitals and roads. Experts debate whether Namibia should invest in the sector as Anglo American seeks buyers, with some warning the industry faces long-term decline.

    25 February 2026 · The Namibian

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 4 February

  1. Widow sues Namdia for N$4m over slain protection officer

    Shirley Eises, widow of Namdia Senior Protection Officer Francis Eiseb who was shot dead during a January 2025 armed robbery at the state-owned diamond company, is claiming close to N$4 million in compensation for loss of financial support and trauma, arguing that Namdia failed to provide adequate security despite knowing the risks to employees.

    4 February 2026 · Informanté

Thursday 22 January

  1. Police pursue more arrests in N$314.9 million Namdia diamond heist

    Namibian police are seeking additional arrest warrants in the Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) robbery investigation, with authorities pursuing suspects linked to the theft and the proceeds from stolen diamonds. The latest arrest, of alleged Namdia security officer Charles Rhoman, followed a suspicious livestock transaction in April 2025, bringing the total arrests to eight.

    22 January 2026 · The Namibian

Wednesday 21 January

  1. Namdia diamond heist suspect remanded in custody

    A suspended Namdia security officer appeared in court over a robbery in which diamonds worth N$314.9 million were stolen over a year ago, leaving two employees dead. The case was transferred to Bethanie Magistrates Court for a January 2026 hearing, and the accused remains in custody on charges of obstructing justice and contravening the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.

    21 January 2026 · New Era

  2. 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

  3. NAMDIA officer's case transferred to Bethanie Magistrate's Court

    Charles Rhoman, a NAMDIA protection officer arrested in connection with a diamond heist, has been remanded in custody and his case transferred to Bethanie Magistrate's Court, with proceedings postponed to 26 January. Rhoman faces charges of obstructing justice and contravening the Prevention of Organised Crime Act for allegedly receiving proceeds linked to diamonds from the heist.

    21 January 2026 · Informanté

  4. 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

Friday 16 January

  1. Namdia employee arrested in N$314.9 million diamond robbery

    A Namib Desert Diamonds employee has been arrested in connection with a diamond heist at the company's offices on 18 January 2025, bringing the total number of arrested employees to four. Diamonds valued at N$314.9 million were stolen in the robbery, which left two employees dead; N$40.6 million worth has so far been recovered.

    16 January 2026 · New Era

Thursday 15 January

  1. Namdia security officer arrested over diamond heist investigation

    Charles Rhoman, a protection officer at state-owned diamond enterprise Namdia, was arrested and appeared in court in relation to a diamond heist in January 2025. He faces charges including obstructing justice and possessing proceeds of unlawful activity, and is allegedly linked to relatives arrested in May after selling diamonds connected to the heist in South Africa.

    15 January 2026 · Informanté

  2. Namdia arrests additional staff member in diamond heist probe

    The state-owned Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) has announced the arrest of another staff member linked to the January 18 armed heist that resulted in the theft of diamonds worth over N$300 million and two deaths. The implicated employee has been suspended without pay pending internal disciplinary and criminal proceedings.

    15 January 2026 · Informanté

Namib Desert Diamonds — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute