Thursday, 22 October 2026

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Thursday, 22 October 2026

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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

Namibia's state diamond company, subject of multiple armed robberies and ongoing prosecutions, with N$335.6 million in diamonds stolen in January 2025.

2022-11-182026-10-22

News reports

Order a long-term news report on Namib Desert Diamonds

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.

October 2026
17 OctThe Namibian
Namibia Desert Diamonds (Namdia) achieved average price of US$339.87 per carat
Source
“Namibia Desert Diamonds (Namdia), which markets a portion of the country's diamonds, achieved an average price of US$339.87 per carat (approximately N$5 630).”
Namibia’s diamonds fetch nearly four times global prices
July 2026
31 JulWindhoek Observer
Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) is suing G4S for N$314 million over alleged negligence in security
Source
“Namdia is suing G4S for N$314 million, representing the value of 446 parcels of diamonds stolen during an armed robbery at the company's premises on 18 January 2025.”
Namdia’s diamond heist set for courtroom showdownPatience Makwele
31 JulWindhoek Observer
Namdia alleges G4S breached contractual obligations by failing to provide adequate security
Source
“The diamond company alleges that G4S breached its contractual obligations by failing to provide adequate security services and by failing to prevent the theft despite having security personnel present at the premises at the time of the incident.”
Namdia’s diamond heist set for courtroom showdownPatience Makwele
30 JulInformanté
Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) Pty Ltd is suing G4S Secure Solutions Namibia for N$314 million
Source
“THE court battle between Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) Pty Ltd, which is suing security company G4S Secure Solutions Namibia for N$314 million, has reached a standoff due to the non-disclosure of evidence related to the diamond heist by Namdia.”
Namdia and G4S court battle reaches deadlock
30 JulInformanté
Namdia has withheld certain evidence it wishes to use against G4S due to confidentiality reasons
Source
“While it has said that it has possession of certain evidence being demanded by G4S, it has withheld it due to confidentiality reasons.”
Namdia and G4S court battle reaches deadlock
11 JulThe Namibian
Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) defended selecting only five Namibian companies for its new diamond sales cycle
Source
“Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) has defended selecting only five Namibian companies for its new diamond sales cycle amid claims the decision has led to factory closures and job losses.”
Namdia defends client selection process
11 JulThe Namibian
Namdia announced it had concluded its client selection process for the 2026 to 2029 trading period, selecting 32 companies from 75 applications
Source
“Namdia announced on Tuesday it had concluded its client selection process for the 2026 to 2029 trading period, selecting 32 companies from 75 applications received from around the world.”
Namdia defends client selection process
1 JulThe Namibian
Namib Desert Diamonds was robbed of 51,725 carats of diamonds valued at N$335.6 million
Source
“The state is alleging that 51 725 carats of diamonds, valued at N$335.6 million, were stolen during the heist, and that about 47 250 carats of diamonds, valued at N$295 million, have not been recovered after the armed robbery.”
Namdia diamond heist trio bound for High Court
June 2026
25 JunThe Namibian
Bryan Eiseb previously served as board chairperson of Namib Desert Diamonds
Source
“He previously served as board chairperson of Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) and as acting executive director in the former Ministry of Mines and Energy.”
From petrol attendant to ACC boss nominee
April 2026
5 AprThe 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

Mining & Energy

Namibian diamonds sell at nearly four times global average price

The News

Namibian diamonds are selling at almost four times the global average price—US$343.88 per carat versus US$93.43 globally—with the country producing 2.1 million carats valued at US$721.5 million in 2025 according to Kimberley Process statistics. Despite smaller production volumes, Namibia achieves higher per-carat values than major producers including Botswana, Angola, Russia, and Canada, reflecting the quality of its stones.

17 October 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 17 October

Namibian diamonds sell at nearly four times global average price
Namibian diamonds are selling at almost four times the global average price—US$343.88 per carat versus US$93.43 globally—with the country producing 2.1 million carats valued at US$721.5 million in 2025 according to Kimberley Process statistics. Despite smaller production volumes, Namibia achieves higher per-carat values than major producers including Botswana, Angola, Russia, and Canada, reflecting the quality of its stones.
17 October 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 21 September

Former Namdia guard Angula's bail appeal dismissed in heist case
The Windhoek High Court has dismissed a bail appeal by former Namdia protection officer Joel Angula, one of three men accused of a fatal robbery at the diamond company's head office in January 2023. Angula and his co-accused face ten charges including murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and theft of diamonds.
21 September 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 4 September

Cloete brothers appeal bail denial in N$300m diamond heist case
George and Bino Cloete, arrested in May 2025 in connection with a January 2025 diamond heist at Namib Desert Diamonds involving over N$300 million, are appealing against the Keetmanshoop Magistrate's Court decision to deny them bail. They face charges including money laundering, trafficking of stolen goods, and contravening the Diamond Act, with prosecutors alleging that approximately N$2 million in deposits linked to the heist were used to purchase livestock and a vehicle after diamonds were sold in South Africa.
4 September 2026 · Informanté →

Tuesday 18 August

Defence lawyer claims weak case against Namdia robbery accused
A lawyer for Joel Angula, a former Namdia protection officer facing charges in connection with a fatal armed robbery at Namdia's Windhoek head office in January last year, argued in the High Court that the case against him is "very weak" during a bail appeal hearing. Angula and two co-accused are facing 10 charges including murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and theft of diamonds.
18 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 10 August

Diamond sector shows recovery signs as market splits
Namdeb's chief executive says the diamond market is showing first signs of recovery, with lab-grown diamonds hitting their ceiling and buyers at the top end turning toward natural stones. The Rapaport Diamond Report shows diamond prices stabilized in July after months of decline, with demand expected to benefit larger stones, of which over 80% of Namdeb's revenue derives.
10 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 31 July

Namdia sues G4S for N$314m diamond theft damages
Namibia's state diamond company Namdia is pursuing a civil claim against security firm G4S Secure Solutions Namibia for N$314 million in damages over an armed robbery of 446 parcels of diamonds at Namdia's premises on 18 January 2025, alleging G4S breached contractual obligations by failing to provide adequate security services. The case has stalled over disclosure disputes, with G4S seeking access to Namdia's security plans, CCTV footage, alarm records, and other evidence to support its defence.
31 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Thursday 30 July

Namdia-G4S lawsuit stalls over withheld evidence disclosure
Namdia Pty Ltd's N$314 million negligence lawsuit against security firm G4S over a January 2025 diamond heist has reached a standoff because Namdia is withholding evidence—including disciplinary records, security protocols, and CCTV footage—citing confidentiality concerns. The court postponed proceedings to 30 July 2026 to determine how the dispute over evidence disclosure should proceed.
30 July 2026 · Informanté →
Economist urges Namibia to exit De Beers, sell diamonds independently
Economist Robin Sherbourne has advised Namibia to buy out its stake in Namdeb and sell its high-quality natural diamonds independently of the De Beers system, arguing that Namibia's 95% gem-quality diamonds may be undervalued when aggregated with lower-quality diamonds globally.
30 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 11 July

Namdia selects five Namibian firms for 2026-2029 diamond cycle
Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) defended selecting five Namibian companies for its new diamond sales cycle out of 11 applicants, saying the selection balanced local participation with achieving optimal price discovery and maximising value for government. The decision has drawn complaints from unsuccessful applicants, who claim it has led to factory closures and job losses in the diamond cutting and polishing industry.
11 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 1 July

Three men charged in Namdia diamond heist sent to High Court
The prosecutor general has decided that three men—former Namdia security officer Joel Angula, Sam Shololo, and former security company employee Samuel Shipanga—will stand trial in the Windhoek High Court on ten charges stemming from an armed robbery at Namdia's head office in January 2025, in which two people were killed and diamonds valued at N$335.6 million were allegedly stolen.
1 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 25 June

Bryan Eiseb nominated to lead Namibia's Anti-Corruption Commission
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has nominated Bryan Eiseb, currently head of the Financial Intelligence Centre, to lead the Anti-Corruption Commission, with Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare tabling a motion in the National Assembly for parliamentary approval. Eiseb, 55, would succeed Paulus Noa, whose term as director general ends this month.
25 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 23 June

Eiseb nominated as next Anti-Corruption Commission director
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has nominated Financial Intelligence Centre director Bryan Eiseb as the new director general of the Anti-Corruption Commission, to succeed Paulus Noa whose term ends this month. If approved by parliament, Eiseb will serve a five-year term.
23 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 5 April

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

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

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

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

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

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 →
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 →
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

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 →
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

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

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

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 →
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 →
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 →
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

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

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 →