Renthia Kaimbi
The Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) has directed the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) to issue an immediate notice to vacate PIS Security Services.
CPBN said the company is occupying the campus without a valid contract.
In a letter dated 24 March 2026 to acting vice-chancellor Andrew Niikondo, CPBN chief executive officer Idi Itope said the company has no legal basis to remain on site.
“There is no procurement contract between the Board and PIS for the rendering of security services to Nust,” Itope wrote.
He said the continued occupation of the premises by PIS is unlawful as there is no court order authorising its presence on site.
The dispute centres on a three-year security contract valued at about N$40 million, which was awarded to Novo Security Services CC on 1 December 2025, with services expected to begin after a 30-day transition period.
The CPBN said the contract came into effect on 11 December 2025.
It said there was no legal barrier to implementation after PIS failed to secure an urgent court interdict on 21 November 2025.
“It is our understanding that because the urgent application failed, there was no impediment to the award and implementation of the contract,” Itope said.
The board said PIS has refused to vacate, delaying the handover to the successful bidder. It warned that any work done by PIS and any payments made would be unlawful.
“You will agree with me that this situation is untenable and public services cannot be held hostage by aggrieved bidders that resort to unlawful self-help to achieve their objectives,” Itope wrote.
The CPBN has asked Nust to issue a notice to vacate and provide an update by 30 March.
The dispute has moved to court, where PIS Security Services is challenging the award.
In court papers filed on 19 March, general manager Seblon Hangula said the winning bidder should have been disqualified.
Hangula said Novo “could not have scored 70% at evaluation” and claimed the board acted “unreasonably, relied on the wrong facts, relied on irrelevant considerations, ignored the requirements specified by the bidding documents and acted irrationally.”
He said Novo misrepresented its experience. He noted that the company received full marks for having five or more years of experience, yet it only obtained a security certificate on 17 April 2023. With bids closing on 20 September 2024, he said this reflects “an estimated period of 17 months”.
Hangula questioned the reference letters submitted by Novo from Build It Omuthiya, Build It Okahandja and Spar Omuthiya, saying they predate the company’s registration on 8 August 2019. He also claimed the entities are owned or were owned by Novo’s managing director, Herman Nekomba.
He further alleged that some individuals listed as employees are not genuine staff members, stating that records indicate they are full-time members of the Namibian Police Force.
He argued this would be in breach of section 27(1) of the Police Act, which prohibits police officers from engaging in remunerative work outside their employment.
Hangula said Novo misrepresented these individuals as security guards and claimed that without those entries, the company’s score would fall below 40%, well under the required 70%.
PIS has written to Police Inspector General Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo to confirm the employment status of the individuals but said it has not received a response.
The application seeks to have the award decision and the review panel ruling set aside and the matter reconsidered.
Novo managing director Gideon Petrus denied the claims.
“In our recruitment, we don’t have a former police officer nor an active one. The allegations are not true,” Petrus said.
He also denied that his company attempted to subcontract the work.
“I have not instructed him. I totally deny it, and I’ll take it up,” he said, referring to claims linked to Herman Nekomba.
The CPBN said the contract stands and that the university must proceed with the transition while the legal challenge continues.
