By Eliaser Ndeyanale and Puyeipawa Nakashole
22 January 2025
Max Endjala (44), an alleged robber in last Saturday’s N$350-million diamond heist at Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia), last year confided in a close friend about an expected “big payday” that was to sort him out for the rest of his life.
“He was anticipating a big payday to be sorted out for life,” a source who was briefed on this conversation says. The conversation allegedly took place last year around the time Endjala received a N$1-million payment from an international business deal.
He allegedly told close associates he was set to start a business with a Namibian-based diamond dealer and would quit his full-time job if the deal went through.
At the time of his death, Endjala was employed as Trustco Group’s chief operations officer of the company’s internal and forensics investigations unit.
His death and alleged involvement in the robbery have surprised both his current and former colleagues.
Endjala was born at Oluteyi, a village in the Omusati region, where he attended school before he moved to Mwala High School and Oshakati Secondary School.
According to an aquaintance, Endjala stayed with his aunt at Oneshila when he was in Grade 12 at Oshakati Secondary School.
He joined Trustco 21 years ago and rose to the position of fleet manager in northern Namibia.
He later transferred to Windhoek’s Trustco head office. There, he gained a reputation of being both a sweetheart and a ruthless operator. At some point, he worked as head of security at Trustco.
Endjala’s colleagues consistently describe him as kind and generous, but he was also known for being ruthless to those who broke the law or company rules.
“He was friendly with everyone at work, but if he began investigating you, your days at the company were numbered. Many left in disgrace due to his investigations,” a source says.
While some senior managers on Trustco’s ‘third floor’ reportedly resented him for his investigations into their allies, ordinary employees viewed him as a champion of justice.
He ruffled feathers at Trustco. Since he was responsible for investigations, his probes often ended up in people being fired.
While Endjala was known at Trustco as a good boss, he did not take lightly to those who seemed to neglect their roles. He built a reputation of firing people for stealing toilet paper and petty cash.
“I really could not believe that he would be involved in such a thing. I remember him as a very helpful guy whenever you needed anything from him. What I remember for sure is that as a direct boss, he did not take issues lightly. He was the kind of guy that you would not want to cross paths with on work procedures because he would let you go if he had to.”
SPORTSMAN-TURNED-SUSPECT
Endjala was not short on friends. One of his colleagues, Andrew Nghidishange, describes him as his younger brother with whom he would have coffee with on a daily basis.
He says he has worked with Endjala at Trustco for 17 years.
“We shared a lot. He was a man full of wisdom, very smart. He was dedicated to his work. He was like a younger brother to me,” Nghidishange says.
Outside of work, Endjala maintained a friendship with diamond businessman Doron Cohen.
Cohen and Endjala worked together at Trustco.
“We were friends, but had no business arrangements together,” Cohen says. The Israeli national was once a prominent businessman with connections to prominent officials.
The Namibian interviewed Endjala in 2019. In that interview, Endjla said he entered his first squash tournament in 2012. He was a utility player.
The following year he made it to the Namibian squash national team for the first time. Since then, he has been a regular member of the national side.
Fellow squash player Steven Berry describes Endjala as an “unbelievable human being.”
“The loss of Max is gonna leave one of the biggest holes ever experienced in Namibian sport,” he says.
Berry recounts a 13-year friendship with Endjala, saying it was marked by shared training sessions, socialising and trips to South Africa.
He highlights Endjala’s contribution towards the development of the squash game at all levels, from improving national players to training and coaching juniors.
“He was a good, genuine guy. We will miss him. Max Endjala was a legend. I am refusing to believe that he did those acts. It’s not him. It’s just not the way he is or who he was,” Berry says.
He hopes further investigations will clear Endjala’s name.
Berry says the last time he spoke to Endjala was last week Thursday, when he travelled to Johannesburg.
He adds that they trained together just last week and he promised Endjala that when he returns from South Africa, they would be back on the training court in preparation for the upcoming squash tournament.
Berry urges the public to remember Endjala for his contributions to the Namibian sport rather than the current allegations.
“He was a ‘massive’ ambassador towards sport in Namibia,” he says.
While acknowledging the gravity of the accusations against Endjala, Berry maintains a hopeful outlook.
“If it does come out that he is guilty, it’s obviously a very sad day for sport, but we will remain positive and hope there was something else at play and hopefully he is not part of it,” he says.
Joel Angula, Endjala’s alleged cousin, is part of Namib Desert Diamonds’ security personnel and a former police officer.
He was attached to the Namibian Police’s directorate of training and development where he worked as an instructor at the Pius Joseph Kaundu Police Training Centre at Houmoed, in the Omaheke region.
Three police officers who know Angula told The Namibian he was a physical education instructor.
“In 2014, he taught law for internal official supervision and management. He graduated in criminal justice from the Namibia University of Science and Technology. A very quiet officer,” one of the three officers says.
Angula appeared in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
He is facing charges of murder, attempted murder and possession of uncut rough diamonds.
The police say they will host a press conference today to provide an update on the heist.
One of the key points of the investigation is whether Endjala was killed or whether he killed himself, as has been widely reported.
Before the heist on Saturday, Endjala reportedly went to his squash training. After that, he drove to the Trustco offices in Windhoek.
He allegedly parked the car at the company’s parking area and from there was picked up by a car.
The other bone of contention is whether there were two other suspects who left the scene. Initially, Namdia said two suspects fled the scene. Now, the police are saying there are no more suspects after all.
Meanwhile, Endjala, was described as a humble man who lightened the burdens of everyone he met.
This was said by his brother, Sergio Browny, who spoke at Endjala’s memorial service on in Windhoek on Tuesday.
“To us, the name we used to call him was Artul Neves Torres. To us, he was a very humble person, who was given the light,” Browny said.
Endjala was an internal and forensics investigation unit chief operations officer at Trustco Group Holdings.
Dr Nelson Herunga, a close friend of Endjala, said he was an athletic person who attributed his success as a top squash player to discipline and dedication.
“He said he wanted to become the number one top squash player in the country and that is the spot he held until his last day,” he said.
Endjala is survived by his wife and four children. He was one of six brothers and four sisters.
His funeral will be held at Oluteyi village in the Omusati region on Saturday.
