August 26 Group
{{short description|Holding company for the Namibian military}}
{{use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox company
| name = August 26 Group
| logo =
| type = State owned enterprise
| foundation = 1998
| location = Windhoek, Namibia
| key_people =
| num_employees =
| revenue =
| industry = Military
| products = various
| homepage = {{URL|www.august26.com.na}}|
}}
The August 26 Group, short August 26, is a state owned enterprise in Namibia. It is fully owned by the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) and thus overseen by the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs. The company was established in 1998 and is headquartered in Windhoek{{'s}} Academia suburb. August 26 handles research, development and procurement on behalf of the defence ministry but has also spread into non-military branches like construction, tourism and agriculture.
Company structure
August 26 is a holding company for several subsidiaries, many closely related to military supplies and services. {{As of|2025}} it consists of the following companies:{{cite news | last=Jantze | first=Zorena | title=Ministry of Defence loses confidence in August 26 | newspaper=Informanté | date=31 October 2019 | url=https://informante.web.na/?p=282805}}
- Windhoeker Maschinenfabrik, Namibia's only arms manufacturer
- Sat-Com, telecommunication enterprise for the military
- August 26 Manufacturing, amalgamation of the former August 26 textiles and garment factory, manufacturing of uniforms and personal protective equipment, and August 26 Industries, manufacturing footwear
- Agro-Tour Development Initiative, tourism and beef production at Mangetti East, Kavango West Region
- August 26 Construction,
- NamForce Life Insurance, insurance services for the armed forces and the general public
- August 26 Logistics, supply chain management and food and kitchen equipment supplier
- Enercon, fuel supply and distribution
- Sea Side Hotel and Spa, Swakopmund
Controversies
August 26's audited reports have never been made public,{{Cite book | last=du Pisani | first=Andre | authorlink=Andre du Pisani | editor1-last=Liebenberg | editor1-first=Ian | editor2-last=Kruijt | editor2-first=Dirk | editor3-last=Paranjpe | editor3-first=Shrikant | title=Defence Diplomacy and National Security Strategy: Views from the Global South | year=2020 | publisher= African Sun Media | page=171 | url=https://scholar.sun.ac.za/bitstream/10019.1/109563/1/liebenberg_defence_2020.pdf#page=159 | chapter=8: Namibia’s Defence Diplomacy: A first exploration | isbn=978-1-928480-54-9 | doi=10.18820/9781928480556}} citing confidentiality. Opposition parties have questioned whether they even have been compiled. During the company's existence, allegations of corruption, graft and mismanagement have surfaced, and August 26 is perceived to be a "holy cow", defying "even the [...] head of state".{{cite news | last=Matheus | first=Envaalde | title=Presidency to respond to Venaani’s questions on August 26 audit report | newspaper=The Namibian | date=2 June 2024 | url=https://www.namibian.com.na/presidency-to-respond-to-venaanis-questions-on-august-26-audit-report/}}
External links
- [https://www.august26.com.na/ August 26 Holdings (PTY) LTD] Official website