Renthia Kaimbi
Novo Security Services has started approaching companies that lost the N$40 million Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) security tender, asking them to help provide and manage the required services.
This comes after Novo told the review panel it had the capacity to carry out the contract on its own.
On 2 December 2025, Herman Nekomba contacted Namibia Protection Services (NPS) chief executive officer Fanie Horn with a request for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to manage security services at Nust for three years.
He wrote that the anticipated start date was 1 January 2026 and asked NPS to submit its prices.
NPS later issued a quotation of almost N$45.5 million for 111 guards for the 2026–2028 period.
NPS, a subsidiary of Kalahari Holdings, had also bid for the tender at N$21 million but was disqualified due to documentation issues.
Rival bidders had earlier argued that Novo did not have the workforce to service the contract.
The Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) had confirmed the award to Novo after dismissing challenges from Six Thousand Security Services CC, Chief Nangolo Security Services CC and PIS Security Services CC.
These companies claimed Novo overstated its experience, lacked the required number of guards, and did not meet all technical requirements.
The Review Panel, chaired by Mekondjo Katunga, rejected these claims.
It ruled that the bid evaluation committee acted lawfully, that Novo’s experience met the three-year requirement after its 2019 incorporation, and that bidders were not required to already employ all guards at the time of bidding.
The Namibian Police (Nampol) also clarified that a bona fide certificate was only needed for companies with more than four firearms, which did not apply to Novo.
Claims about vehicles and wage declarations were also dismissed.
Novo managing director Gideon Petrus denied instructing Nekomba to act on behalf of the company, although he acknowledged they are friends.
“I’m not aware of anything that he has done outside his jurisdiction where I’m not informed. We are not allowed to subcontract. I don’t think I was even part of such a discussion or anything. I’m actually not aware. I’m learning from you now that that is the case. Maybe someone was trying to represent another entity. He is a friend of mine, but I have not instructed him. I totally deny it, and I’ll take it up,” Petrus said.
Despite receiving CPBN’s contract acceptance letter, Nekomba denied any involvement with Novo or knowing Petrus.
Nekomba has previously been scrutinised in procurement matters. In 2022, he and two of his brothers were disqualified from a government tender after submitting bids worth a combined N$382 million through separate companies with similar details. He later took CPBN to court over his exclusion from a N$100 million food supply tender for the education ministry, and Judge Eileen Rakow ruled in his favour.
CPBN had not responded to questions by the time of publication.
Finance ministry executive director Michael Humavindu declined to comment and said companies may approach the Procurement Policy Unit for further guidance.
