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

Standard Bank

Also known as: Standard Bank Namibia · Standard Bank Group · The Standard Bank of Namibia Limited · Standard Bank South Africa · SBSA · Standard Bank SA

Financial services institution operating in Namibia, involved in commercial banking, wage disputes with staff, and several legal disputes over fishing ventures and alleged fraud.

2019-08-022026-07-24

What’s been said

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

  1. April 2026
  2. The Namibian

    Standard Bank Namibia employed former employee Pia Atshipara

    Source

    A former employee of Standard Bank Namibia is being held in custody after appearing in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court on 12 counts of fraud on Thursday.

    Former Standard Bank employee charged with fraud involving N$4 million
  3. March 2026
  4. New Era

    Standard Bank contributed N$150 000 to the trust fund

    Source

    More than N$700 000 was pledged during the gala dinner, with Standard Bank and MTC each contributing N$150 000 to the trust fund.

    Lüderitz Crayfish Festival boosts local economy
  5. New Era

    Standard Bank Namibia departed as NHRA sponsor

    Source

    Currently, Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTC) is the only NHRA sponsor following the departures of FNB Namibia, Standard Bank Namibia, and Debmarine, which previously invested in the sport.

    Sponsorship drought at horse racing sport – Mootu
  6. The Namibian

    Standard Bank initiated the Development Programme in partnership with School of Excellence Hockey Club

    Source

    He is also in charge of the Standard Bank Development Programme that was initated a few years ago in partnership with SoEHC, and says the programme is now starting to deliver results.

    Handura building a new legacy at Ella du Plessis
  7. New Era

    Standard Bank Namibia hosted the Annual Budget Dialogue 2026 in Windhoek

    Source

    Standard Bank Namibia on Wednesday hosted the Annual Budget Dialogue 2026 in Windhoek, bringing together leaders from government, finance and industry to discuss the direction of the country's national budget.

    Budget dialogue calls for discipline, partnership
  8. Informanté

    Standard Bank Namibia employed economist Helena Mboti

    Source

    According to an economist from Standard Bank Namibia, Helena Mboti, the moderation was largely driven by weaker business credit growth, which declined by 1.0 percentage point (ppt) to 3.8% in January 2026 compared to the previous month, alongside still-sluggish (albeit marginally improving) household credit, which edged up 0.3 ppt to 5.8% during the same period.

    Credit extended to private sector slows in January 2026
  9. The Namibian

    Standard Bank has invested in the Blue Growth Series as a strategic national intervention for women entrepreneurs

    Source

    This surge reflects extraordinary ambition, even as women continue to face systemic barriers. According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, women remain 47% more likely than men to close a business due to family or personal pressures. They also continue to face challenges accessing finance and formal market networks. These realities mirror the experiences of many Namibian entrepreneurs, which is why the Standard Bank Blue Growth Series has become a strategic national intervention rather than a routine training programme.

    Standard Bank Invests in Women for Economic Growth
  10. The Namibian

    Standard Bank continues to invest in platforms strengthening bankability and financial confidence among women entrepreneurs

    Source

    These structural inequities underscore why Standard Bank continues to invest in platforms that strengthen bankability and financial confidence among women entrepreneurs.

    Standard Bank Invests in Women for Economic Growth
  11. New Era

    Standard Bank Namibia has been named Best Trade Finance Provider in Namibia in 2026 Global Finance Awards

    Source

    Standard Bank Namibia has been named the Best Trade Finance Provider in Namibia in the 2026 Global Finance Best Trade Finance Providers Awards, reinforcing the bank's role as a leading enabler of cross-border commerce, investment flows, and sector expansion.

    Standard  Bank  named  best trade finance  provider  in  Namibia
  12. New Era

    Standard Bank Namibia appointed Rejoice Itembu as operations executive

    Source

    Rejoice Itembu has taken up the role of operations executive at Standard Bank Namibia, effective 1 March 2026.

    Itembu appointed Standard Bank’s operations executive

Yesterday

  1. South African entrepreneurs to headline sixth Business Summit Namibia

    South African entrepreneurs Sbusiso Leope (DJ Sbu) and Sheldon Tatchell are scheduled to headline the sixth Business Summit Namibia in Windhoek on Saturday, which will feature speakers, panel discussions, exhibitions, and networking opportunities for entrepreneurs and business leaders.

    12 hours ago · The Namibian

Sunday 5 July

  1. Standard Bank Namibia workers threaten strike over wage dispute

    Standard Bank Namibia workers are threatening industrial action after wage negotiations collapsed, with the union demanding a 7% salary increase while the bank has offered 5%. The union accuses management of rewarding executives with bonuses while refusing to meaningfully improve staff salaries, despite the bank generating N$1.2 billion in profit.

    5 July 2026 · The Namibian

Wednesday 1 July

  1. Prosecutor seeks to freeze drug dealer's bank account

    The prosecutor general has approached the High Court for a preservation of property order to freeze money in a Standard Bank account belonging to alleged drug dealer Edward Kambahe, following an unexplained wealth order granted in February and a police interception of a vehicle carrying 1.912 kilograms of cannabis valued at about N$95,600.

    1 July 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 30 June

  1. Daron denies misappropriating N$40m from DRC fishing deal

    Daron Namibia has rejected allegations that it misappropriated funds from a N$40-million Democratic Republic of Congo fishing venture now in a High Court dispute involving Standard Bank Namibia and Hodago Fishing. Daron says its role was limited to operating and maintaining the fishing vessel, and that it did not receive or control the N$40 million.

    30 June 2026 · The Namibian

Wednesday 24 June

  1. DRC state fund sues Standard Bank over N$40m fishing deal

    The Democratic Republic of Congo's state social fund has taken Standard Bank Namibia to court over a N$40-million transaction involving a fishing company that is partly owned by Swapo, alleging that N$13 million was misappropriated from a protected account after the bank allowed unauthorized changes to account mandates and transfers without consent.

    24 June 2026 · The Namibian

Thursday 18 June

  1. Standard Bank appoints Elzita Beukes as marketing executive

    Standard Bank Namibia has appointed Elzita Beukes, its senior public relations manager, as executive of marketing and branding from 1 July. Beukes brings over 15 years' experience in marketing, communications and reputation management across banking, corporate and development sectors.

    18 June 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 16 June

  1. Court orders joinder of SWAPO companies in fishing dispute

    A High Court judge has ordered the joinder of Kuiseb Fishing and two other respondents in a legal dispute between Delmare Group and Hodago Fishing, in which Delmare seeks to prevent Hodago from transacting in fish worth N$15 million that Delmare claims it paid for upfront. The dispute arises from a June 2025 Supply and Financing Agreement between Delmare and Hodago, co-owned by SWAPO entities and other fishing companies.

    16 June 2026 · Informanté

Saturday 13 June

  1. Windhoek expands cashless bus payment via PayPulse partnership

    The City of Windhoek has partnered with Standard Bank's PayPulse platform to enhance its cashless municipal bus payment system, launched in August 2025, allowing commuters to register, manage accounts, and top up funds remotely via mobile phones or at Woermann Brock supermarkets. The system accommodates both smartphone and non-smartphone users.

    13 June 2026 · Informanté

Wednesday 10 June

  1. Hodago Fishing's N$65 million trawler heads to auction for unpaid debts

    Hodago Fishing, a company 45% owned by Gendev Fishing Resources (which has links to Swapo business interests), faces financial pressure as its flagship freezer trawler, Venus 1, is set for auction in Walvis Bay on 30 June following unpaid debts to Standard Bank Namibia of N$18.4 million and N$17.6 million.

    10 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Monday 8 June

  1. SWAPO-linked fishing vessel Venus 1 to be auctioned June 30

    Hadago Fishing's freezer trawler Venus 1 will be auctioned on 30 June 2026 in Walvis Bay after the company failed to repay debts to Standard Bank Namibia and workers' wages. The vessel, valued at N$65 million, is being sold following a High Court order to recover millions owed by the fishing company, which is 45% owned by SWAPO-linked Gendev Fishing Resources.

    8 June 2026 · Informanté

Saturday 6 June

  1. South African entrepreneurs to speak at 2026 Windhoek business summit

    DJ Sbu and Sheldon Tatchell, South African entrepreneurs, will be guest speakers at the 2026 Business Summit Namibia in Windhoek on 25 July. The summit, one of Namibia's leading entrepreneurship and networking platforms, is expected to attract approximately 1,000 attendees.

    6 June 2026 · The Namibian

Wednesday 3 June

  1. Banking sector attracts investors despite earnings quality differences

    Namibia's banking sector continues to draw investors, though earnings quality differences among listed banks are now structural rather than cyclical, according to Simonis Storm's Banking Report 2026. FirstRand Namibia is identified as the preferred banking stock, while Standard Bank Namibia received an accumulate rating and Capricorn Group a reduce rating pending improvements in key indicators.

    3 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Sunday 31 May

  1. Windhoek cashless parking system sparks confusion and exclusion

    Windhoek's rollout of a cashless parking system requiring KPI-issued or bank cards has caused confusion and frustration among motorists, many of whom lack access to these payment methods. The article argues that rapid digital transitions without adequate consultation disproportionately affect those outside the formal banking system.

    31 May 2026 · The Namibian

Monday 25 May

  1. High Court orders auction of Hodago Fishing's freezer trawler

    A Windhoek High Court judge has authorised the deputy sheriff to sell Hodago Fishing's vessel Venus 1 through public auction after the financially troubled company failed to repay Standard Bank Namibia N$36 million in loan and facility agreements. Gendev Fishing Resources, in which the Swapo-owned company Guinas Investments holds 96.5%, has 45% shareholding in Hodago Fishing.

    25 May 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 19 May

  1. Standard Bank responds to fraud allegations and settlement terms

    Standard Bank says fraud affecting its clients is a widespread global issue and that each incident is evaluated individually. The bank states it offers discretionary goodwill payments to support affected customers but says these are not admissions of liability, and that confidentiality clauses in settlements are standard practice to protect privacy and ongoing investigations.

    19 May 2026 · The Namibian

  2. Namibia's largest banks' loan impairments peak then recover post-pandemic

    Namibia's four largest commercial banks saw loan impairments surge from N$230 million in June 2015 to a peak of N$1.5 billion in December 2020 before gradually stabilising. Impairments have since eased, declining to N$640 million by 2022 and settling at N$760 million by year-end 2024.

    19 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Sunday 17 May

  1. Standard Bank faces fraud crisis across South Africa and Namibia

    An investigation by IOL has uncovered a pattern of fraud affecting customers in South Africa and Namibia, with combined losses exceeding R3 million. The bank has been accused of blaming clients for unauthorized crimes, conducting opaque investigations, and offering settlements that require victims to accept silence.

    17 May 2026 · The Namibian

Friday 15 May

  1. Namibia's debt increasingly a cash-flow challenge, economist warns

    Economist Almandro Jansen warns that Namibia's debt situation is becoming a cash-flow and refinancing challenge as government relies on continuous domestic borrowing, with a total financing requirement of approximately N$29.22 billion (10.2% of GDP) for 2026/27, though the country remains capable of funding itself.

    15 May 2026 · Informanté

Wednesday 13 May

  1. Customs and excise offices relocate to Southern Industrial

    Namibia Revenue Agency (Namra) has begun moving customs and excise offices to a newly established One-Stop centre on Reger Street in the Southern Industrial area. Currently, only limited services including motor vehicle clearance certificates and booking of physical inspections are available, while payments and other services remain at the Eros Airport office during the transition.

    13 May 2026 · The Namibian

Saturday 9 May

  1. Fabian Shaanika appointed Chamber of Mines CEO from May 2026

    The Chamber of Mines of Namibia has appointed geologist and investment banking professional Fabian Shaanika as Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 May 2026, succeeding retired CEO Veston Malango who led the organization for two decades. Shaanika brings nearly 20 years of mining sector experience across exploration, project development, financing, and production, including recent roles at Kelp Blue and senior positions at Rand Merchant Bank and Standard Bank Namibia.

    9 May 2026 · Informanté

Friday 8 May

  1. Standard Bank appoints Deloitte & Touche as external auditor

    Standard Bank Namibia has appointed Deloitte & Touche Namibia as its independent external auditor, replacing PricewaterhouseCoopers Namibia with effect from 29 April 2026, in compliance with Bank of Namibia's BID-10 regulation requiring external auditor rotation every 10 years.

    8 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Thursday 7 May

  1. MTC appeals for more corporate internship support in Namibia

    Mobile Telecommunications Limited is calling on companies and institutions to create more internship opportunities for young Namibians through the Namibia National Internship Programme, which was launched in 2019 to help graduates enter the job market. MTC contributes N$2 million annually to the programme, which placed 332 interns in 2025 across more than 40 fields.

    7 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Wednesday 6 May

  1. Shaanika appointed Chamber of Mines CEO from May 2026

    Fabian Shaanika, former managing director of Kelp Blue, has been appointed chief executive officer of the Chamber of Mines of Namibia, effective 1 May 2026. He brings experience from mining and resources roles at Namdeb, Vedanta's Skorpion Zinc Mine, Debmarine Namibia, and Rand Merchant Bank Namibia.

    6 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer

  2. Chamber of Mines appoints Fabian Shaanika as chief executive

    The Chamber of Mines of Namibia has appointed Fabian Shaanika, formerly managing director of kelp farming company Kelp Blue, as its new chief executive effective 1 May. Shaanika, a registered geologist with MBA and experience at Rand Merchant Bank, Standard Bank, Namdeb, Skorpion Zinc Mine and Debmarine Namibia, replaces Veston Malango, who retires after 20 years leading the chamber.

    6 May 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 5 May

  1. Namibia's oil discoveries offer chance to build local refining capacity

    Recent oil and gas discoveries in the Orange Basin, with an over 80% exploration success rate, position Namibia to avoid reliance on imported fuel and build local refining capacity—a lesson highlighted by recent fuel price shocks tied to Middle Eastern conflicts.

    5 May 2026 · The Namibian

Monday 4 May

  1. GIPF board members earned N$666,000 in two months in sitting fees

    The Government Institutions Pension Fund paid its board of trustees chairperson Penda Ithindi N$114,000 for attending three meetings in two months, and Napwu general secretary Petrus Nevonga N$92,163 during the same period, according to payroll records reviewed by The Namibian. The payments have revived concerns that clustered board and sub-committee meetings have become a parallel income stream for trustees already drawing civil service or union salaries.

    4 May 2026 · The Namibian

Thursday 30 April

  1. South Africa's xenophobic marches accelerate amid UN concern

    Anti-migrant marches led by activists Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma and Zandile Ndlovu are staging increasingly bold demonstrations across South African cities with little resistance from authorities. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned the surge in threats and violence as South Africa faces pressure to intervene.

    30 April 2026 · The Namibian

Friday 24 April

  1. Windhoek marathon celebrates athletes with intellectual disabilities

    Namibia Special Olympics president Charles Nyambe praised a recent Windhoek marathon that featured 533 athletes with intellectual disabilities competing in 2-kilometre, 5-kilometre, and 10-kilometre races and walks, alongside 1,300 public participants in a 21-kilometre race to raise awareness and funds. Nyambe said the event aimed to break barriers, foster understanding, and dispel myths about intellectual disabilities while highlighting the achievements of participants.

    24 April 2026 · The Namibian

Thursday 23 April

  1. Blue Waters face Unam in Top 8 Cup quarter-final

    Blue Waters FC will play Unam FC in a 2026 Standard Bank Top 8 Cup quarter-final on 2 or 3 May at Swakopmund, with the Walvis Bay club citing home advantage as motivation. Quarter-final draws also pit FC Ongos against KK Palace, African Stars against Eleven Arrows, and Mighty Gunners against Eeshoke Chula Chula.

    23 April 2026 · The Namibian

Sunday 19 April

  1. Fabian Shaanika appointed to Kudu Chemicals board

    Green Metals Refining has appointed seasoned mining and banking executive Fabian Shaanika to the board of its Namibian subsidiary Kudu Chemicals, which is developing a sulphuric acid plant at Walvis Bay for battery-grade manganese chemical production.

    19 April 2026 · The Namibian

Standard Bank — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute