Unam sues campus caterer for N$1.9m

The University of Namibia (Unam) is suing the operator of its main campus cafeteria for N$1.9 million in alleged unpaid rent.In a claim filed in the High Court, Unam says Purple Plum Events and Catering CC has fallen behind on rent for The Buzz, which serves food and drinks to students, staff and lecturers at the Windhoek campus.Unam says the lease stipulates a monthly rental of N$42 000, increasing by 10% a year. According to its particulars of claim, dated 4 March, the company owed N$1.9 million as of 3 February.The university says the debt has accumulated since 2021, with payments that were “sporadic and insufficient to extinguish the arrears”.Because of the irregular rental payments, “the indebtedness continued to accrue in terms of the lease agreement,” Unam says in court documents.Unam says the company paid N$150 723 in 2021, N$100 000 in 2022, N$566 073 in 2023 and N$609 237 in 2024.The lease was signed on 14 December 2017 by then vice chancellor Professor Lazarus Hangula, with Purple Plum represented by its owner, Friedel Felicity Mpule Sezuni.Unam wants the court to confirm the cancellation of the lease agreement and order Purple Plum to pay the outstanding rent.It is also seeking interest at 10% per year from the date of judgment until final payment, legal costs and an order preventing the company from removing or disposing of movable property from the leased premises until the matter is finalised.Purple Plum's lawyer, Ray Rukoro, said the company had only recently been served with the court documents and had not yet had an opportunity to respond.“We just got served with the documents recently, and so we have not gotten time to respond. But an opportunity to do so will come after the planning of the case has been done,” Rukoro said.Covid-19 reliefThe court papers also refer to rental relief granted to the company during the Covid-19 pandemic.“We are pleased to inform you that the University of Namibia resolved last year to write off all rentals and corporate social responsibility for the period 20 March to 31 December 2020,” a 4 February 2021 letter, attached to the lawsuit, reads.“This decision was taken in lieu of the fact that Covid-19 prevention measures severely impacted your business during the period mentioned,” the letter added.However, the university maintained that utility charges remained payable.Minutes of Unam's procurement committee meeting held on 2 February 2021 indicate that the relief was part of a broader response to difficulties faced by service providers on its campuses during the pandemic.

Unam sues campus caterer for N$1.9m

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Namibian Sun 2026-10-21

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Unam sues campus caterer for N$1.9m

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Namibian Sun 2026-10-21

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