CCTV cameras were allegedly switched off VVIP head allegedly resigns Renthia Kaimbi President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has not slept in her private residential wing at State House since a naked mental health patient broke into the heavily guarded premises nearly three weeks ago. …
A recent security breach at State House, the fatal shooting of a man with a mental illness by the police and reports that nurses fear for their safety are not isolated. …
… This comes after Giano Seibeb (29), who is accused of trespassing at State House in Windhoek two weeks ago, escaped from the facility where he had been admitted before the incident. …
The Cabinet has reduced the benefits of former first lady Monica Geingos, including the number of staff attached to her residence and the vehicles allocated to her, State House executive director Matheus Kaholongo confirmed yesterday. …
… For imagination.Because how else do you explain a situation where a mentally ill man allegedly bypasses multiple checkpoints, strolls into State House butt-naked like he’s checking into a spa, and allegedly starts preparing chicken inside the presidential compound?At that point, …
… The decision came days after a 29-year-old mentally unstable Giano Seibeb allegedly bypassed security and entered the presidential residence at State House last week. …
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has not slept in her private residential wing at State House since a naked mental health patient broke into the premises nearly three weeks ago; she is staying at her private home in Hochland Park. The incident led to the suspension of police inspector general Joseph Shikongo and raised questions about security, as CCTV cameras were allegedly switched off at the time.
Why it matters
Security breach at State House continues to dominate headlines, with the President displaced from her residence and senior police leadership suspended—a constitutional and governance crisis.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has not slept in her private residential wing at State House since a naked mental health patient broke into the premises nearly three weeks ago; she is staying at her private home in Hochland Park. The incident led to the suspension of police inspector general Joseph Shikongo and raised questions about security, as CCTV cameras were allegedly switched off at the time.
The Namibian editorial argues that Namibia's mental health system is in crisis, citing a security breach at State House, a fatal police shooting of a man with mental illness, and nurse safety fears as symptoms of deeper problems. While a new mental health bill promises modernisation and human rights alignment, the editorial warns that laws alone cannot treat patients and calls for immediate systemic action alongside legislative reform.
Hodago Fishing, a joint venture partly linked to Swapo, faces a US$3 million legal dispute after allegedly breaching a horse mackerel quota agreement with a Democratic Republic of Congo entity. The DRC-linked party claims the company failed to meet agreed delivery volumes and has demanded either the release of 500 tonnes of fish or repayment of US$1.4 million.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services acknowledged systemic failures at the Windhoek Central Mental Health Centre, citing inadequate infrastructure and human resource deficits that contributed to poor supervision. The admission followed a patient escaping and a fatal police shooting incident.
The Cabinet has reduced the benefits of former first lady Monica Geingos, limiting her to three household staff members and two state-sponsored vehicles effective 1 June, down from her current seven employees. The new policy applies to former first ladies whose husbands die before them, but does not affect founding first lady Kovambo Nujoma.
Alexander Mungendje, a public management student at the Namibia University of Science and Technology, has become the first person in his family of 16 siblings to earn a degree. Despite losing both parents during his studies, facing mockery in his village, and struggling to afford registration fees, he persisted and is now set to graduate.
A satirical opinion column criticizes Namibia's VIP protection officers for alleged failures in security at State House, including an incident on 21 April where a mentally ill man allegedly bypassed checkpoints and entered the presidential compound unclothed.
A Windhoek resident submitted a 161-page dossier to the Security Commission in April 2025 requesting President Nandi-Ndaitwah remove inspector general Joseph Shikongo from office, alleging corruption, criminal interference, intimidation and abuse of state institutions. Nandi-Ndaitwah appointed major general Anne-Marie Nainda as acting inspector general, though the president did not publicly state reasons for the suspension.
The 12-month suspension of Namibia's inspector general of police, lieutenant general Joseph Shikongo, has created a vacuum of official information, allowing rumors to proliferate about alleged breaches at State House and other unverified claims. The Windhoek Observer editorial argues that the lack of clear, timely communication from top officials has bred public confusion and mistrust.
The family of Giano Seibeb, accused of trespassing at State House in Windhoek, is demanding to see closed-circuit television footage of the incident and wants answers on how he escaped Windhoek Central Hospital's mental health centre where he had been admitted. The incident led President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to suspend police inspector general Joseph Shikongo.
Police say CCTV footage from an incident in which Giano Seibeb was found naked at State House will not be released while investigations are ongoing. A criminal case has been opened; the chief of presidential security has been reassigned, and police say no further details can be provided while the matter is sub-judice.
PDM leader McHenry Venaani said President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has the constitutional authority to dismiss senior officials without necessarily giving public explanations, in response to the suspension of police inspector general Joseph Shikongo. Venaani argued that leaders make key decisions based on sensitive information unavailable to the public.
The Namibian Police is not disclosing whether suspended inspector general Joseph Shikongo retains his salary and benefits during suspension; Nampol referred media inquiries to the Presidency's statement, which does not address the conditions of Shikongo's suspension.
The mother of Giano Seibeb, who is accused of trespassing and breaking into the Presidential residence at State House on 30 April 2026, said she had admitted her son to mental health facilities on about four occasions, from which he escaped. According to his medical passport, Seibeb has a history of schizophrenia; the prosecutor has ordered a psychological evaluation to determine whether he is fit to stand trial.
A 29-year-old Windhoek resident charged with trespassing, indecent exposure, and housebreaking after being found naked in a State House guest house has been ordered to undergo psychiatric observation to determine if he can understand court proceedings. He has a history of schizophrenia and escaped from a mental ward at Windhoek Central Hospital before the incident.
A 29-year-old man accused of trespassing and housebreaking at State House must undergo mental evaluation to determine fitness to stand trial, though a legal expert notes mental illness does not automatically remove criminal responsibility. The accused was diagnosed with schizophrenia and had left a mental health facility without formal discharge.
Former inspector general Sebastian Ndeitunga says the failure to detect a man who entered the presidential residence last week exposed weaknesses across the police chain of command. The breach has fuelled speculation about the status of police inspector general Joseph Shikongo and raised questions about the VIP Protection Unit's head Michael Abraham.
Giano Seibeb (29) appeared in Windhoek Magistrate's Court charged with trespassing, housebreaking with intent to commit an offence, and contravening the Immoral Practices Act after allegedly breaching State House security and entering the presidential residence naked on 30 April 2026. The court postponed the matter to 22 June 2026 for a mental evaluation; Seibeb, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, indicated he wishes to plead guilty.
Giano Seibeb (29) appeared in Windhoek Magistrate's Court facing charges of trespassing, housebreaking with intent, and contravening the Immoral Practices Act after breaching State House security on 30 April. The court heard he had escaped from the mental health ward at Windhoek Central Hospital where he was diagnosed with schizophrenia; the state requested postponement to 22 June 2026 for a mental evaluation.
Defence Minister Frans Kapofi denied reports that the Namibian Defence Force has assumed responsibility for protecting President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, saying the military could step in only if required. The denial comes after an alleged security breach at State House on Thursday, when an unidentified man allegedly entered the presidential residence and reached the private living area before being apprehended, though details of how he gained access and whether he was arrested remain unclear.
A naked man allegedly breached State House security and reached the president's private floor on Thursday afternoon, with sources blaming police and presidential security for the failure. The incident has raised questions about police inspector general Joseph Shikongo's job security, though the Presidency denied dismissing him on Saturday.
Sabastian Sawe became the first athlete to run a sub-two hour marathon in race conditions, clocking 1hr 59min 30sec in London on 26 April 2026. He received a hero's welcome on his return to Kenya, where President William Ruto compared his achievement to historic milestones including the first four-minute mile and the moon landing.
This year's International Workers' Day commemoration in Opuwo will be jointly organised by government, employers, and trade unions, following a recent meeting between President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and the National Union of Namibian Workers. The tripartite approach reflects a Cabinet decision to involve all key labour market stakeholders in the event.
A fundraising gala dinner for Okongo village's 5th annual Omaludi Agricultural Festival raised N$465,700, with Hangala Foods pledging N$50,000. The festival, themed "Agriculture and Tourism for Sustainable Economic Growth," is scheduled for 25 to 30 May.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah commissioned a new National Governing Council of the African Peer Review Mechanism, with Namibia tasked to spearhead efforts tackling youth unemployment across Africa. The country's approach involves youth development funding, apprenticeships and education support, though Namibia itself faces a youth unemployment rate of around 44.4% according to census-based figures.
Acting judge David Mangota ruled that Zambezi Exploration's urgent application to restrain the minister of industries, mines and energy from implementing a decision about a petroleum exploration licence for block 2812A did not meet the requirements to be heard as urgent, finding the urgency was self-created because the company delayed action after learning of a rival's relinquishment in January 2023. The judge ordered Zambezi Exploration to pay the legal costs of the minister and Vena Gemstones & Mining, the company that was awarded the licence.
The Namibia Aviation Training Academy, facing funding shortages and outdated equipment, met President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to request government support for capacity-building. The academy warned that without urgent intervention, Namibia risks losing out on developing its own aviation workforce as demand for skilled professionals is expected to grow with the oil and gas sector expansion.
Algeria has committed to fully fund the construction of a medical polyclinic in Namibia, as confirmed during a State House meeting between President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and Algeria's Ambassador Abdelkrim Diaf. The initiative strengthens bilateral ties and follows past health cooperation agreements dating to 2008.