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Friday, 23 October 2026
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Namibian press · Person

Paulus Noa

Also known as: ACC boss · Mr Noa

Paulus Noa — outgoing Anti-Corruption Commission director general who established and led the institution for 20 years until 2026.

2021-08-062026-10-23

News reports

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What’s been said

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

  1. July 2026
  2. New Era

    Paulus Noa urged his successor to uphold rule of law and resist political pressure

    Source

    “Former Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) director general Paulus Noa has urged his successor, Bryan Eiseb, to uphold the rule of law, resist public and political pressure.”

    A note from Noa … uphold law, resist political pressure, Eiseb told
  3. Namibian Sun

    Paulus Noa says politicians never interfered with ACC's work

    Source

    “Outgoing Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) director general Paulus Noa says politicians never once interfered with the commission's work, despite the ACC pursuing cases against seni...”

    ACC never bowed to politicians, Noa says
  4. Namibian Sun

    Paulus Noa spent two decades working to save public institutions from corruption

    Source

    “One Noah built an ark to save humanity from a flood, while Namibia's Noa spent two decades working from what looks remarkably like one, trying to save public institutions from a flood of corruption.”

    WEEKENDER'S ROAST: The burden of being called Noa, even without an h
  5. Namibian Sun

    Paulus Noa prepares to leave office after almost twenty years

    Source

    “Paulus Noa's frustration, as he prepares to leave office after almost twenty years, is that he never enjoyed the luxury of such finality.”

    WEEKENDER'S ROAST: The burden of being called Noa, even without an h
  6. The Namibian

    ACC director general Paulus Noa is friends with Judge Boas Usiku

    Source

    “Judge Boas Usiku informed the four accused – former attorney general and minister of justice Sacky Shanghala, James Hatuikulipi, Otneel Shuudifonya and Pius Mwatelulo – and lawyers representing the respondents in the matter that he decided not to hear the case assigned to him because he and the second respondent cited in the matter, ACC director general Paulus Noa, are friends.”

    Fishrot civil case judge recuses himself over ACC chief friendship
  7. June 2026
  8. The Namibian

    Paulus Noa warned that emergency procurement processes at health ministry vulnerable to abuse

    Source

    “In October 2025, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) director Paulus Noa warned that emergency procurement processes at the health ministry are particularly vulnerable to abuse.”

    Urgent N$1b health tender blocked
  9. The Namibian

    Paulus Noa has led the Anti-Corruption Commission since its establishment in February 2006

    Source

    “Noa has led the ACC since its establishment in February 2006.”

    Eiseb nominated to succeed Noa at ACC
  10. The Namibian

    Anti-Corruption Commission director general Paulus Noa has a term that is drawing to an end as Anti-Corruption Commission director general

    Source

    “There has been public debate for years about the effectiveness of prosecutor general (PG) Martha Imalwa and Anti-Corruption Commission director general Paulus Noa, whose terms are drawing to an end.”

    Editorial: Betrayal of the Technocrats
  11. Windhoek Observer

    Paulus Noa has led ACC since its inception in February 2006

    Source

    “Noa, who has led the ACC since its inception in February 2006, is completing his fourth five-year term later this month.”

    Calls grow for new ACC boss
  12. Windhoek Observer

    ACC director general Paulus Noa said he was not aware of the complaint the whistleblower complaint

    Source

    “ACC director general Paulus Noa told the Windhoek Observer on Monday that he was not aware of the complaint and could not comment on its contents.”

    Whistleblower alleges corruption at NIPDB
Politics

New ACC head must rebuild public trust in anti-corruption efforts

The News

Civil society groups say Bryan Eiseb, the new head of the Anti-Corruption Commission, must transform the institution into a "real and powerful" organisation and restore public confidence in the government's commitment to fighting corruption. The commission has been criticised for failing to lead anti-corruption efforts, promote transparency, build law enforcement against corruption, and protect whistleblowers, particularly in public procurement.

19 October 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 19 October

  1. New ACC head must rebuild public trust in anti-corruption efforts

    Civil society groups say Bryan Eiseb, the new head of the Anti-Corruption Commission, must transform the institution into a "real and powerful" organisation and restore public confidence in the government's commitment to fighting corruption. The commission has been criticised for failing to lead anti-corruption efforts, promote transparency, build law enforcement against corruption, and protect whistleblowers, particularly in public procurement.

    19 October 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 5 October

  1. Haufiku alleges ACC director general protected person in 2016 health case

    Former health minister Bernard Haufiku questioned whether outgoing Anti-Corruption Commission director general Paulus Noa protected a person implicated in alleged corruption at the Ministry of Health in the so-called 'healthrot' scandal. Haufiku, who says he submitted evidence of alleged fraudulent procurement between 2016 and 2017 nearly a decade ago, suggested Noa may have failed to act because one of those implicated had a personal connection to him.

    5 October 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 4 October

  1. Outgoing ACC chief cautions against expecting swift convictions

    Outgoing Anti-Corruption Commission director general Paulus Noa has warned that the public should not expect the ACC to secure convictions in every corruption case, saying the law and courts must take their course. Noa ended his 20-year tenure after helping establish the ACC in 2006 and handed over to incoming director general Bryan Eiseb.

    4 October 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 28 September

  1. Anti-Corruption Commission summons NAC chief for questioning

    The Anti-Corruption Commission has summoned Namibia Airports Company chief executive Bisey Uirab for questioning regarding procurement and governance irregularities. The ACC director general confirmed the meeting but declined to disclose details, citing confidentiality of the investigation.

    28 September 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 26 September

  1. ACC founding DG Noa hands over to Bryan Eiseb October

    The Anti-Corruption Commission will mark a leadership transition on 1 October when founding Director-General Paulus Noa, who has served over 20 years, hands over to newly appointed Director-General Bryan Eiseb. The ACC describes the occasion as the beginning of "a new chapter" for the institution.

    26 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Friday 7 August

  1. IPC queries legal basis of ACC chief's two-month extension

    Opposition politician Imms Nashinge has questioned the legality of outgoing Anti-Corruption Commission Director-General Paulus Noa's reported two-month tenure extension, arguing it bypassed Parliament and may constitute executive overreach. Nashinge says Parliament approved Bryan Eiseb as Noa's replacement and a one-year extension for deputy director general Erna van der Merwe in July 2026, but Noa's additional time was granted during parliamentary recess without parliamentary involvement as required by the Constitution and Anti-Corruption Act.

    7 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Sunday 2 August

  1. Unexplained wealth should signal corruption for investigation

    Financial Intelligence Centre director Bryan Eiseb says unexplained wealth should be treated as a warning sign of possible corruption and referred to law-enforcement agencies. Eiseb, nominated to succeed Paulus Noa as director general of Namibia's Anti-Corruption Commission, argued that stronger anti-money laundering systems and attention to gaps between legitimate income and accumulated assets are key to preventing corruption and protecting public resources.

    2 August 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. ACC director pushes lifestyle audits for public officials

    Namibia's new Anti-Corruption Commission director general Bryan Eiseb has prioritized unexplained wealth as a key corruption-fighting tool, arguing that lifestyle audits, asset tracking, and unexplained wealth orders could deter corrupt officials by preventing them from enjoying illegal proceeds.

    2 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 22 July

  1. Former ACC director advises successor to resist political pressure

    Former Anti-Corruption Commission director general Paulus Noa has advised his successor, Bryan Eiseb, to uphold the rule of law and resist public and political pressure, cautioning that public opinion should never dictate investigative decisions and warning against entertaining personal, material, or political agendas.

    22 July 2026 · New Era →

Tuesday 21 July

  1. ACC director says commission resisted political interference

    Outgoing Anti-Corruption Commission director general Paulus Noa said politicians never interfered with the commission's work, despite its pursuit of cases against senior figures.

    21 July 2026 · Namibian Sun →

Saturday 18 July

  1. Opinion: Anti-Corruption Commission leadership compared to biblical Noah

    A Namibian Sun opinion column draws parallels between Paulus Noa's twenty-year tenure leading the Anti-Corruption Commission and the biblical Noah, comparing the building's ark-like appearance and the challenge of warning society about corruption that many refuse to acknowledge.

    18 July 2026 · Namibian Sun →

Monday 13 July

  1. Parliament approves Eiseb as ACC director general

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah nominated Bryan Eiseb as the new Anti-Corruption Commission director general following a prime ministerial motion; Parliament approved without objection. During the Assembly debate, urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa urged Eiseb to lead the institution "like a wolf and not a donkey," warning against allowing the ACC to be weaponised for political or tribal agendas and stressing the need for independent operation.

    13 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 5 July

  1. Judge recuses himself from Fishrot civil case over friendship

    Judge Boas Usiku recused himself from hearing a wide-ranging application by four Fishrot fraud and corruption accused in the Windhoek High Court after determining that his friendship with ACC director general Paulus Noa could create a view of bias. The application, in which the accused seek to restrain the prosecutor general from continuing their criminal prosecution until their civil case is decided, was postponed to 9 July.

    5 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 3 July

  1. Paulus Noa retires after 20 years as ACC director general

    Paulus Noa, who established Namibia's Anti-Corruption Commission from scratch in 2006 and served as its director general for 20 years, is stepping down with Bryan Eiseb nominated as his successor. During his tenure, the ACC processed over 7,500 corruption complaints and expanded to include forensic, intelligence, and anti-money laundering divisions.

    3 July 2026 · Namibian Sun →

Sunday 28 June

  1. Health ministry procurement committee blocks N$1b emergency tender

    The Ministry of Health and Social Services' procurement committee has blocked senior officials' proposal to bypass public tender procedures for a N$1-billion medicine purchase, citing concerns that emergency procurement could be abused. The tender was meant to address medicine shortages at public hospitals and clinics.

    28 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 25 June

  1. 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

  1. 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 14 June

  1. Editorial: Technocrats must resist pressure, defend truth

    The Namibian editorial argues that senior officials—advisers, executive directors, chief executives and civil servants—have a duty to speak truth to power and not remain silent to stay close to authority, citing the upcoming transitions of the prosecutor general and Anti-Corruption Commission director general.

    14 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 3 June

  1. ACC director-general tenure ending, calls for new leadership

    With Anti-Corruption Commission Director-General Paulus Noa's tenure ending this month after leading the agency since its 2006 inception, voices including former parliament member Hidipo Hamata are calling for new leadership and endorsing candidates like legal practitioner Norman Tjombe. Affirmative Repositioning MP Job Amupanda confirmed his party is engaging government to ensure the ACC director-general and deputy director-general positions are advertised before their June/July expiry.

    3 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Tuesday 2 June

  1. Anonymous whistleblower alleges corruption at NIPDB

    An anonymous complaint submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission has alleged corruption, nepotism, favouritism and governance irregularities at the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board under former CEO Nangula Uaandja between 2021 and 2025. The allegations, which have not been independently verified, include claims of recruitment irregularities, including the appointment of Tinus Fourie to positions without public advertisement or interview.

    2 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Friday 22 May

  1. ACC director warns of corruption in unrelated training

    Paulus Noa, director general of the ACC, has cautioned that public officials attending workshops and training programmes unrelated to their duties signals growing corruption.

    22 May 2026 · Namibian Sun →

Sunday 10 May

  1. ACC warns against public resource mismanagement at strategy workshop

    The Anti-Corruption Commission's Deputy Director-General Erna van der Merwe called public resource mismanagement "a cancer that eats away at the moral fabric of society" while delivering remarks at a consultative workshop in Omusati Region. The workshop aimed to gather stakeholder input for the development of the 3rd National Anti-Corruption Strategy and Action Plan for 2026–2030.

    10 May 2026 · Informanté →

Sunday 26 April

  1. ACC delays in health ministry corruption probe draw scrutiny

    An editorial in The Namibian questions the pace of the Anti-Corruption Commission's investigation into corruption allegations at the Ministry of Health and Social Services, citing files provided by former health minister Bernard Haufiku in 2020 and warning that prolonged delays undermine accountability and discourage witnesses.

    26 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 21 April

  1. Health ministry under multiple corruption investigations by ACC

    The Anti-corruption Commission is investigating multiple cases of theft and fraud within the Ministry of Health and Social Services, which also launched its own internal investigation after discovering alleged stock manipulation and diversion of pharmaceutical supplies within the Central Medical Stores. The ministry has reassigned implicated staff members pending investigation outcomes.

    21 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 23 March

  1. ACC gathers input for next anti-corruption strategy plan

    The Anti-Corruption Commission held a consultative workshop in Keetmanshoop with //Kharas regional stakeholders to gather input for the 3rd National Anti-Corruption Strategy and Action Plan for 2026-2030. ACC Director General Paulus Noa emphasized that fighting corruption and promoting ethical values is a collective responsibility requiring preventative measures across all sectors of society.

    23 March 2026 · New Era →

Monday 16 February

  1. TransNamib suspends two executives over property contract irregularities

    TransNamib has suspended executives Webster Gonzo (human capital) and Alynsia Platt (properties) following an internal investigation into property contracts allegedly concluded without proper procurement procedures while Gonzo was acting CEO. The suspensions stem from findings in a 2022 Ernst and Young forensic audit that identified numerous irregularities in TransNamib's property management, including inadequate oversight, manipulated lease agreements, and N$700 000 in performance bonuses paid to executives while the company recorded monthly losses.

    16 February 2026 · New Era →

Sunday 15 February

  1. Editorial: Anti-Corruption Commission needs systematic reform

    The Namibian editorial argues that while Anti-Corruption Commission director general Paulus Noa's 20-year tenure has run its course, the focus should be on comprehensive institutional reform including funding, talent attraction, and leadership quality rather than on individual personalities or politically motivated appointments.

    15 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 14 February

  1. Namibians gather to mourn slain prosecutor Justine Shiweda

    State prosecutor Justine Shiweda was mourned at a memorial service in Onambango village near Ondangwa on Friday, attended by the Prime Minister representing the President, along with cabinet ministers, senior officials, and traditional leaders, ahead of his burial.

    14 February 2026 · Informanté →

Wednesday 11 February

  1. Former PM defends ACC chief Noa amid tenure review calls

    Former prime minister Nahas Angula has defended Anti-Corruption Commission head Paulus Noa's performance despite recent criticism calling for a more transparent and independent appointment process. Political analysts and former officials argue the next ACC leader should be impartial, free from political ties, and subject to parliamentary oversight and public vetting.

    11 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 10 February

  1. ACC arrests fugitive businessman's mother in Namcor-Enercon case

    The Anti-Corruption Commission arrested the mother of fugitive businessman Victor Malima in the Oshana region on Friday, allegedly for involvement in illicit financial transactions and business registrations linked to criminal proceeds connected to the ongoing Namcor-Enercon corruption investigation. Malima remains at large and has been described as a key facilitator in the case.

    10 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Paulus Noa — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute