A group of family and friends of bail applicants Bino Cloete and George Cloete staged a protest outside the Keetmanshoop Magistrate’s Court this morning, demanding that the brothers be granted bail.

The bail application hearing for the Cloete brothers is set to continue today.

The duo, together with Charmaine Cloete—George Cloete's wife—faces charges of violating the Prevention of Organised Crime Act and illicit trafficking under the Diamonds Act.

The protesters petitioned for the removal of Deputy Commissioner Barry de Klerk, alleging misconduct in his role as part of the investigating team probing the N$315 million Namdia heist.

The investigation led to the arrest of the Cloete family, Joel Angula, and Sam Shololo.

They further demanded that the Namibian Police Inspector General, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo, to whom they addressed the petition, issue a formal apology to Angula and the Cloete brothers, who were subjected to injustice and unlawful treatment.

Additionally, the group asked for the creation of an independent investigation to look into the seizure of the suspects' assets, possible connections to surveillance systems, and important choices made during the investigation.

Concerns were also raised about alleged intimidation, the deliberate withholding of witnesses, and the suppression of Chief Inspector Nicodemus Amber’s statement and procedures relating to the recovery, valuation, and documentation of the recovered stolen diamonds.

The demonstrators also demanded prosecutorial accountability, the immediate release of those they said are wrongfully detained, and the restoration of public trust.

The petition was not received by court officials or police officers.