Police officers ‘used’ in N$40m NUST tender identified

Suspended police inspector general Joseph Shikongo has confirmed that eight individuals presented as employees of the winning bidder in a N$40 million Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) security tender are active members of the Namibian Police Force.

In a letter addressed to lawyer Appolos Shimakeleni, who represents rival bidder PIS Security Services, Shikongo confirmed that warrant officers Ausiku Daniel and Petrus Shipanga, sergeants Sabecious Sinjala, Andreas Silas, Johanna Iilonga and Frank Mowa, as well as constables Stefanus Shawapala and Kandetu Nashimba, are serving police officers.

The correspondence, stamped by the Katutura charge office on 15 May, now forms part of an ongoing court battle over a three-year security services contract awarded by the Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) to Novo Security Services.

PIS Security Services is challenging the award in court, alleging irregularities, lack of transparency and possible misrepresentation during the tender process.

At the centre of the dispute are allegations that Novo Security Services included CVs and supporting documents of serving police officers in its tender submission, allegedly presenting them as private security personnel employed by the company.

According to court papers, PIS previously approached the High Court on an urgent basis seeking to block implementation of the tender, arguing that the procurement process was fundamentally flawed and should be reviewed and set aside.

PIS alleges that records obtained from the Social Security Commission indicated that several individuals listed in Novo’s bid were on the payroll of the safety and security ministry rather than the private company.

The company further claims that police training certificates issued by the Israel Patrick Iyambo Police College strengthened suspicions that the individuals were still employed as police officers.

Lawyers representing PIS wrote to Shikongo on 26 February requesting clarity on the status of the eight individuals, arguing that confirmation from the police chief was crucial to determining the integrity of both the tender process and the ongoing litigation.

“Our client respectfully requests your urgent assistance in this matter,” the letter stated.

CVs and certificates before court

Documents attached to the court affidavit include police training certificates, certificates of conduct and CVs linked to the eight individuals.

Shipanga's CV shows him as having served at Katutura Police Station between 2013 and 2018 before he was listed as Novo Security Services’ security manager from 2019 to date.

Silas's CV states he worked at Windhoek Police Station from 2014 to 2017 before allegedly joining Novo Security Services in 2018.

Records linked to Shawapala include a Namibian Police Force basic training certificate completed in 2020, alongside a CV reflecting police service between 2019 and 2022 before employment at Novo Security Services.

The affidavit also contains documents linked to Mowa, whose qualifications include a bachelor of criminal justice in policing from NUST, awarded in April 2024.

Urgency disputed

The CPBN has opposed PIS’ application, arguing that the matter does not satisfy the legal threshold for urgency.

The board argues PIS became aware of the review panel’s decision on 10 October 2025 but only approached the court about two weeks later.

“This is a matter where the urgency is self-created,” the CPBN argued, adding that litigants cannot “jump the queue” because of delays of their own making.

PIS claims Novo should have been disqualified during the procurement process for allegedly failing to meet mandatory staffing and technical compliance requirements.

The company also alleges Novo may have approached unsuccessful bidders for assistance with staffing the contract despite allegedly indicating during the bidding process that it had sufficient internal capacity.

Novo denies wrongdoing

Novo Security Services has strongly denied the allegations.

Managing director Gideon Petrus previously told Namibian Sun that the company does not employ active or former police officers.

“On our recruitment, we don’t have a former police officer nor an active one. The allegations are not true,” he said.

PIS is now seeking a court order to halt implementation of the contract pending the outcome of the judicial review application.

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