Namibia Minute.
Friday, 24 July 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Friday, 24 July 2026
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Namibian press · Person

Sanet Steenkamp

Also known as: minister Sanet Steenkamp · Minister of education, innovation, youth, sport, arts and culture Sanet Steenkamp · Minister Steenkamp · Dr. Sanet L. Steenkamp · Minister of Education Sanet Steenkamp · Education minister Sanet Steenkamp · Sport minister Sanet Steenkamp · Dr Steenkamp · Dr Sanet Steenkamp

Education Minister who told Parliament the ministry will investigate UNAM if a formal complaint is submitted, and is addressing school capacity and water provision challenges.

2022-05-132026-07-24

What’s been said

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

  1. April 2026
  2. New Era

    Minister of education Sanet Steenkamp said the SHINE project is a strategic alliance for the country's academic and economic future

    Source

    In a speech read on her behalf, minister of education Sanet Steenkamp said that this project is a strategic alliance that will contribute to the academic and economic future of the country.

    Local universities in progressive union
  3. March 2026
  4. New Era

    Minister Sanet Steenkamp praised the children's resilience at their graduation ceremony

    Source

    At their recent graduation ceremony, Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture, Sanet Steenkamp, praised their resilience.

    From streets to second chances
  5. New Era

    Education minister Sanet Steenkamp described the centre as a regional skills milestone

    Source

    Education minister Sanet Steenkamp described the centre as a "regional skills milestone," adding that the synergy between the education sector and the energy industry is the only sustainable way to ensure national growth.

    KVTC: Namibia’s southern energy corridor
  6. Informanté

    Minister of Education Sanet Steenkamp visited Namiyundu Primary School and Nankuntwe Combined School in Zambezi Region

    Source

    This commitment was made during the recent visit of the Minister of Education, Sanet Steenkamp, to the Zambezi Region, where she visited Namiyundu Primary School and Nankuntwe Combined School, both of which have been impacted by the floods.

    Education ministry provides supplies to flood-affected Zambezi schools
  7. New Era

    Education Minister Sanet Steenkamp said intervention forms part of coordinated whole-of-government response to disaster

    Source

    Speaking after the visit, education minister, Sanet Steenkamp yesterday said the intervention forms part of a coordinated whole-of-government response to the disaster, which has disrupted schooling and displaced both learners and teachers.

    Ministry moves to relocate flood-hit Zambezi schools
  8. Informanté

    Minister Sanet Steenkamp travelled to the Zambezi Region to assess flood impact on education

    Source

    the Minister of Education, Sanet Steenkamp, has also travelled to the region to assess the impact of flooding, particularly on the education sector.

    Steenkamp visits Zambezi Region to assess flood impact on education
  9. New Era

    Education minister Sanet Steenkamp has warned that floods significantly disrupt schooling, affecting at least 587 learners

    Source

    Meanwhile, education minister Sanet Steenkamp has warned that the floods are significantly disrupting schooling, with at least 587 learners in the Zambezi region already affected.

    Life first: President asserts as she assesses Zambezi flood crisis
  10. New Era

    Sanet Steenkamp, the minister of education is attributed by mayor Swartbooi with solid progress in Namibia's TVET sector through steadfast leadership

    Source

    The mayor also extended her gratitude to Sanet Steenkamp, the minister of education, attributing the "solid progress" in Namibia's TVET sector to the minister's steadfast leadership and strategic direction.

    Mayor encourages discipline at Keetmans VTC
  11. The Namibian

    Education minister Sanet Steenkamp says her ministry is unable to issue a statement as police have not officially identified the bodies

    Source

    Education minister Sanet Steenkamp says her ministry is unable to issue a statement at the moment as the police have not yet officially identified the bodies.

    ‘We recognised her from the video’
  12. Informanté

    Minister Sanet Steenkamp attended the event, underscoring education's importance

    Source

    Also in attendance was Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture Sanet Steenkamp, whose presence underscored the importance of education as a cornerstone of national development.

    Miss Universe sisters support education in Namibia
Sport

Namibia opens nominations for 2026 sport awards

The News

The 22nd Namibia Annual Sport Awards has launched nominations until 31 August, featuring realigned categories and safeguarding rules. Deputy director of sport Irvine Ndjavera called on federation administrators to act as gatekeepers of sporting talent and ensure excellence is identified and nominated.

17 July 2026 · The Namibian

Friday 17 July

  1. Namibia opens nominations for 2026 sport awards

    The 22nd Namibia Annual Sport Awards has launched nominations until 31 August, featuring realigned categories and safeguarding rules. Deputy director of sport Irvine Ndjavera called on federation administrators to act as gatekeepers of sporting talent and ensure excellence is identified and nominated.

    17 July 2026 · The Namibian

  2. Seventeen Namibians to compete at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026

    Namibia will send 17 young competitors to the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai from 22 to 27 September 2026, competing in 16 vocational and technical skill categories as part of benchmarking the country's TVET against global standards. The biennial event will bring together about 1,400 competitors from more than 70 countries in 64 disciplines.

    17 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer

  3. 17 Namibians to compete at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026

    Seventeen young Namibians will represent the country in 16 vocational and technical skill categories at the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, China, from 22 to 27 September 2026. The Namibia Training Authority and WorldSkills Namibia announced the participation to coincide with World Youth Skills Day, with Namibia's team competing in fields including mechatronics, welding, plumbing, web technologies, and cooking among others.

    17 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Friday 10 July

  1. President urges Chinese investors to build manufacturing in Namibia

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah called on Chinese investors to partner with Namibia in building processing industries and creating jobs, saying the country must move beyond exporting raw minerals towards investment, industrialisation, manufacturing and technology transfer. She said Namibia's mineral deposits including uranium, diamonds, lithium, copper and rare earth minerals must be used to create greater economic benefits for Namibians.

    10 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Thursday 9 July

  1. Four Namibia Sports Commission board terms expire, raising governance concerns

    The Namibia Sports Commission faces uncertainty after four commissioners' contracts expired on 30 June, creating questions about the legality of the board's authority and control of banking systems. The remaining five active board members, whose terms expire in December, now lead the commission while authorities await clarification on new appointments.

    9 July 2026 · New Era

Wednesday 8 July

  1. Capricorn Foundation pledges N$5m to early childhood development

    Capricorn Foundation has committed N$5 million to support early childhood development over the next three years through a partnership led by the Ministry of Education and the Education Outcomes Fund, with the programme expected to reach more than 2,500 children by its launch in 2027 using an outcomes-based financing model.

    8 July 2026 · The Namibian

Monday 6 July

  1. Agriculture ministry clarifies borehole funding and selection roles

    The agriculture ministry spokesperson said that the ministry does not decide which schools receive boreholes; that selection rests with the education ministry, which funds the programme while agriculture provides technical support during implementation.

    6 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Friday 3 July

  1. Education ministry will investigate UNAM allegations if formal complaint submitted

    Education Minister Sanet Steenkamp told Parliament that the ministry has not been made aware of maladministration, corruption or recruitment irregularities at UNAM, but will investigate should a formal complaint supported by evidence be submitted. Steenkamp distinguished between interference and intervention, noting that UNAM has its own council and senate.

    3 July 2026 · Informanté

Wednesday 1 July

  1. Origo Primary school garden feeds 150 learners daily

    Origo Primary School's vegetable garden supplies fresh produce for about 150 vulnerable learners daily while teaching agricultural, entrepreneurial and life skills, having expanded from one greenhouse established in 2023 to two production sites.

    1 July 2026 · New Era

  2. Education minister addresses Erongo school intake halts

    Education Minister Sanet Steenkamp said the Ministry is not yet in a placement phase in the Erongo Region and is working on improved strategies to decongest schools in five regions, including building new schools in Henties, Walvis Bay, and the DRC. She noted that Erongo Region needs at least three schools built per year as approximately 2,000 learners arrive in the region annually.

    1 July 2026 · Informanté

  3. Regional councils should lead school water supply efforts

    Minister of education Sanet Steenkamp says water provision to schools is primarily a rural development responsibility for regional councils, though her ministry has intervened by drilling boreholes, connecting schools to community infrastructure, and deploying water tankers in regions like Oshikoto.

    1 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Tuesday 30 June

  1. Pre-primary demand outstrips school capacity in Namibia

    Overcrowded classrooms and rising demand for pre-primary placements are straining public schools, with some schools accommodating around 45 pupils when the recommended ratio is 35 pupils per teacher. The education directorate in Erongo region has temporarily suspended new pupil enrolments at public primary schools in Swakopmund and Walvis Bay.

    30 June 2026 · The Namibian

  2. Grave of Okahandja murder victim desecrated with burned snake

    The grave of six-year-old Roswinds Fabianu, who was murdered in Okahandja in April 2025, was vandalized on the death anniversary when unidentified people allegedly burned a snake on her tombstone, scorching it and devastating the family.

    30 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Thursday 25 June

  1. Four NYC board members leave as terms end June

    Four members of the National Youth Council board, including interim executive chairperson Patience Masua, have left office after their initial terms concluded on 30 June. Four other board members remain, while the council's leadership transition remains uncertain following the postponement of a general assembly in Swakopmund.

    25 June 2026 · The Namibian

Wednesday 24 June

  1. SPYL leader calls urgent meeting over NYC assembly chaos

    A Swapo Party Youth League central committee member has requested an urgent extraordinary meeting to address public claims linking SPYL members and senior party leaders to the disruption of the National Youth Council general assembly that was cancelled in Swakopmund last week.

    24 June 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 23 June

  1. PM warns NYC not a shortcut to political stardom

    Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has cautioned that the National Youth Council should not be used as a stepping stone to political stardom, but instead serve as a platform for youth empowerment and nation-building. His warning follows a chaotic elective assembly over the weekend that descended into violence, injuring nine delegates and forcing the ministry to halt proceedings indefinitely.

    23 June 2026 · New Era

Monday 22 June

  1. Violence at National Youth Council election forces postponement

    The state-funded National Youth Council's general assembly in Swakopmund was postponed after violence erupted during the election of a new executive chairperson, injuring nine delegates. The education minister condemned the incident as "unacceptable, unruly conduct and violence," and critics are calling for the institution to be dismantled.

    22 June 2026 · The Namibian

  2. Five NYC delegates open assault cases at Swakopmund

    Five National Youth Council members opened common assault cases at Mondesa Police Station after being assaulted during a chaotic display on Sunday night in Swakopmund. The general assembly to elect a new NYC executive chairperson has been postponed by the Minister of education, innovation, youth, sports, arts and culture due to the electoral committee's resignation citing safety concerns.

    22 June 2026 · The Namibian

  3. National Youth Council assembly postponed after violent clashes

    A National Youth Council elective general assembly that began Friday descended into chaos on Saturday, injuring nine delegates and prompting education minister Sanet Steenkamp to postpone the assembly indefinitely. The disruption involved disputes over the electoral process, with disagreements over delegate allocations and factional tensions.

    22 June 2026 · New Era

  4. NYC assembly descends into chaos, wastes N$2 million

    The National Youth Council's general assembly in Swakopmund descended into violence on Saturday, injuring nine delegates and forcing the electoral committee to resign over safety concerns. The suspended election process, marred by allegations of political interference and back-door deals, has wasted an estimated N$2 million in public funds.

    22 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer

  5. National Youth Council congress marked by chaos and disorder

    The National Youth Council's elective congress reportedly descended into chaos, intimidation, and alleged physical altercations, with more than N$2 million spent on the event. The Windhoek Observer editorial characterizes the proceedings as unbecoming of an institution representing Namibia's youth aspirations.

    22 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer

  6. Violence at youth council elections injures nine, wastes N$2m

    Violent clashes at National Youth Council leadership elections in Swakopmund on Saturday left nine young people injured and forced the suspension of the election. The violence, which broke out over disputes regarding delegate verification and the electoral process, prompted the resignation of the electoral committee and an estimated N$2 million in wasted public funds spent on transportation, accommodation, meals, and venue costs.

    22 June 2026 · Namibian Sun

Sunday 21 June

  1. NYC general assembly postponed after violent disruption

    The education ministry postponed the National Youth Council's general assembly after violent disruption at a Swakopmund event injured nine delegates and prompted the electoral committee's resignation. The minister says unresolved concerns over delegate verification and compliance must be addressed before the assembly can resume.

    21 June 2026 · The Namibian

  2. Violence erupts at National Youth Council assembly in Swakopmund

    Nine delegates were injured during violent disruptions at the National Youth Council General Assembly in Swakopmund on Saturday, prompting the Electoral Committee to resign and the Ministry of Education to postpone proceedings citing safety and order concerns.

    21 June 2026 · Informanté

  3. National Youth Council assembly postponed after Saturday violence

    The Ministry of Education indefinitely postponed the National Youth Council general assembly in Swakopmund following an outbreak of violence on Saturday that injured nine delegates. The Electoral Committee has resigned citing safety concerns, and the ministry has received petitions from affiliates raising compliance and verification issues; Youth Minister Steenkamp says the interim board will address outstanding matters and communicate next steps.

    21 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer

  4. Minister suspends NYC leadership elections amid delegate tensions

    Minister Sanet Steenkamp halted proceedings at the National Youth Council General Assembly in Swakopmund on Saturday night after tensions over delegate accreditation and election timing escalated into disorder, forcing postponement of the leadership vote scheduled to elect a new executive chairperson and board for four years.

    21 June 2026 · Informanté

  5. Minister Steenkamp appoints Boxing and Wrestling Control Board

    The Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture has officially appointed the members of the Boxing and Wrestling Control Board for a three-year term, mandated to oversee development, promotion and regulation of boxing and wrestling in Namibia. The Board is chaired by Ronald Patrick Kurtz and includes Dr Naftal Natanael, Anita Tjombe Gawanas, Monalisa Molebugi and Kaura Tjimuine.

    21 June 2026 · Informanté

Saturday 20 June

  1. National Youth Council General Assembly marks recovery from governance crisis

    The National Youth Council held a General Assembly in Swakopmund to elect new leadership following nine months of governance reforms under an Interim Board. Minister Dr Sanet Steenkamp said the assembly marks the final step in restoring the council's democratic foundations after a period of instability and compliance shortcomings.

    20 June 2026 · Informanté

Friday 19 June

  1. Education Ministry clarifies 2027 school admissions not first-come basis

    Namibia's Ministry of Education has urged parents not to camp outside schools to secure admission for 2027, clarifying that the admission process is not based on first-come, first-served. The ministry stressed that no parent is required to sleep outside school gates, and that admissions are guided by the Constitution, the Education Act 2020, and Circular 3 of 2026.

    19 June 2026 · Informanté

Wednesday 17 June

  1. President calls for greater protection, empowerment of African children

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah marked the Day of the African Child by honouring children killed in the 1976 Soweto Uprising and calling for greater investment in protecting and empowering African children, noting that their sacrifice helped secure freedoms many African children enjoy today.

    17 June 2026 · New Era

Sanet Steenkamp — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute