Beatrix de Jager

Also known as: High Court judge Beatrix de Jager · Justice De Jager · judge Beatrix de Jager · judge De Jager · De Jagger · Acting judge Beatrix de Jager

High Court judge who publicly warned of an unsustainable workload and inhuman conditions affecting judicial capacity.

2024-02-212026-07-19

What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

February 2024
21 FebThe Namibian
Acting judge Beatrix de Jager found that the applicant failed to include the JDN Civil Engineering and New Era Investment joint venture as a necessary party
Source
“Acting judge Beatrix de Jager also found that the applicant failed to include the JDN Civil Engineering and New Era Investment joint venture as a necessary party in the matter.”
Chinese-Namibian venture loses battle over N$185m tender bid

Society

Witnesses contradict police in assault-in-custody lawsuit

The News

Four witnesses have filed statements in the High Court contradicting the Namibian Police's version of events surrounding the arrest of former Spitzkoppe tour guide Melvin //Areseb, who is suing the police and three officers for N$2.8 million over an alleged assault while in custody. Police officers deny assaulting //Areseb or witnessing any assault, claiming only reasonable force was used after he became aggressive following questioning about a reported domestic violence incident.

17 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Friday 17 July

Witnesses contradict police in assault-in-custody lawsuit
Four witnesses have filed statements in the High Court contradicting the Namibian Police's version of events surrounding the arrest of former Spitzkoppe tour guide Melvin //Areseb, who is suing the police and three officers for N$2.8 million over an alleged assault while in custody. Police officers deny assaulting //Areseb or witnessing any assault, claiming only reasonable force was used after he became aggressive following questioning about a reported domestic violence incident.
17 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Four witnesses contradict police in assault lawsuit filed by tour guide
Four witnesses have filed statements in the High Court contradicting the Namibian Police's version of events in a N$2.8 million assault lawsuit filed by former Spitzkoppe tour guide Melvin //Areseb against the police and three officers over an alleged assault during his arrest on 22 August 2025. Police officers deny assaulting //Areseb or witnessing assault by colleagues, while the officers claim only reasonable force was used after the plaintiff became aggressive during questioning about a domestic violence incident.
17 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Monday 13 July

Labour Court remits Mulunga-Namcor dispute to arbitrator
The Labour Court has referred a dispute between state-owned Namcor Petroleum Trading and Distribution and its former managing director Imms Mulunga back to arbitration, after ruling that an arbitrator wrongly dismissed the case in June. Mulunga was dismissed in August 2024 after being found not guilty in a disciplinary hearing, and Namcor subsequently referred claims against him for breach of contract and financial losses to the Labour Commissioner in October 2024.
13 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 19 May

High Court places Linden Beef under final liquidation order
The High Court has placed Linden Beef Close Corporation under final liquidation after the company failed to appear at a winding-up hearing. The company owes Bank Windhoek approximately N$28.4 million in debts from loan and credit facility agreements entered into between 2022 and 2024.
19 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Wednesday 18 March

Eighteen inmates challenge study hour reduction at Windhoek prison
Eighteen inmates at Windhoek Correctional Facility have sued the head of educational services after their daily study hours were reduced from six to two, arguing the decision violates the Correctional Service Act's rehabilitation objectives and was made without proper written directive or consultation.
18 March 2026 · New Era →

Friday 20 February

Judiciary budgets depleted; legal aid travel suspended
Memos from the Office of the Judiciary and Ministry of Justice confirm severe budget shortages: the legal aid travel budget is depleted and legal aid counsel must seek to postpone out-of-station hearings; magistrates are barred from travelling outside duty stations for cases between 15 March and 15 April. Chief Justice Peter Shivute warned that underfunding and staff shortages threaten judicial capacity, with civil judges' workload rising 60% despite fewer cases being filed.
20 February 2026 · New Era →

Sunday 15 February

High Court workload surge leaves judges overwhelmed, system fragile
The High Court's civil bench saw case load surge from an average of 384 cases per judge in 2024 to 614 in 2025, prompting judge Beatrix de Jager to declare publicly that she would not sacrifice her health for an impossible workload. The Namibian editorial argues that government prioritizes resource allocation to natural resource distribution and military recruitment over supporting the judiciary, risking constitutional democracy.
15 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 13 February

Namibia must decentralise High Court beyond Windhoek
An opinion piece by legal practitioner Advocate Richard Metcalfe argues that centralising all High Court cases in Windhoek creates an unsustainable caseload for judges and calls for opening High Court divisions in Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Keetmanshoop and Rundu. Metcalfe also flags delays in implementing a new Magistrates' Courts Act, governance issues in the Magistrates' Commission, and security threats to judicial officers as symptoms of a broader crisis in the judiciary.
13 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 12 February

High Court judge warns of crisis in Namibian judicial system
Judge Beatrix de Jager postponed delivering a judgement to protect her health, citing an unsustainable workload and workforce shortage that she described as "inhuman." Chief Justice Peter Shivute confirmed that judges are under immense pressure, with civil judges managing an average of 614 cases each in 2025, and called for urgent judicial appointments and support.
12 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 9 February

Degazetted chief challenges removal at High Court
Dâuredaman Chief Zacharias Seibeb has filed a review application at the High Court challenging his removal by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah in November under the Traditional Authorities Act. Seibeb claims he remains the duly recognised chief and seeks to be re-gazetted, with the court ordering both parties to submit documents and affidavits by specified dates in coming months.
9 February 2026 · New Era →