Fishcor

Also known as: National Fishing Corporation of Namibia

Fishcor — Namibia's state-owned fishing company, pursuing a US$1 billion claim against Samherji over alleged quota-related corruption between 2012 and 2019.

2019-10-252026-08-21

What’s been said

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

January 2026
27 JanThe Namibian
Fishcor was owed N$81.8 million in fish quota usage fees allegedly diverted through DHC
Source
“In charges against 10 men awaiting trial in the High Court in connection with the Fishrot scandal, it is alleged that N$81.8 million in fish quota usage fees which were supposed to be paid to the state-owned National Fishing Corporation of Namibia (Fishcor) were channelled through bank accounts of DHC and the company Celax Investments Number One, of which De Klerk was the sole director and shareholder.”
Fugitive Fishrot lawyer challenges police over N$1.3 million pension seizure
March 2024
3 MarThe Namibian
Fishcor is allegedly being rewarded for spawning the Fishrot corruption scheme estimated at more than N$3 billion
Source
“Fishcor is essentially being rewarded for spawning the Fishrot corruption scheme estimated at more than N$3 billion.”
Credit Where It’s Due, Just Not for the Crumbs
April 2023
21 AprThe Namibian
Fishcor faced allegations that it spoon-fed with a N$1,8-billion fishing quota deal over 15 years
Source
“In May 2018, after The Namibian detailed allegations that Esau had spoon-fed Fishcor with a N$1,8-billion fishing quota deal over 15 years, Fishcor invited journalists to inspect its N$530 million horse mackerel processing plant at Walvis Bay.”
Fishrot fashionista: Nghipunya’s rise and reckoning
September 2022
4 SeptThe Namibian
Fishcor is described as fishy
Source
“Air Namibia is dead and buried, Amta is a vegetable, Fishcor smells fishy, and so much more is no more.”
Time For The Uneducated to Lead SOEs

Politics

Acting prosecutor freezes fugitive lawyer's N$75.3m assets

The News

Acting prosecutor general Martha Imalwa has obtained a Prevention of Organised Crime Act property restraint order in respect of fugitive lawyer Marén de Klerk's assets valued at up to N$75.3 million, as well as assets valued at up to N$2.3 million in respect of the close corporation Moyo Estates. De Klerk, who left Namibia in January 2020 and is believed to be living in South Africa, is wanted in connection with the Fishrot fraud case involving alleged illegal allocation of Namibian fishing quotas.

20 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 20 July

Acting prosecutor freezes fugitive lawyer's N$75.3m assets
Acting prosecutor general Martha Imalwa has obtained a Prevention of Organised Crime Act property restraint order in respect of fugitive lawyer Marén de Klerk's assets valued at up to N$75.3 million, as well as assets valued at up to N$2.3 million in respect of the close corporation Moyo Estates. De Klerk, who left Namibia in January 2020 and is believed to be living in South Africa, is wanted in connection with the Fishrot fraud case involving alleged illegal allocation of Namibian fishing quotas.
20 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 14 July

MTC retains position as Namibia's most profitable public enterprise
MTC recorded profits of N$1.45 billion in the 2025 financial year, reinforcing its status as Namibia's most profitable public enterprise in the 2026 IJG Public Enterprise Governance Ranking. Other state-owned enterprises including NamPort, NamPower, and NamibRe showed mixed financial performance, with NamPort emerging as a strong turnaround performer with profits rising to N$864.5 million.
14 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Thursday 16 April

Fishrot trial postponed as recusal application stays proceedings
The Fishrot case has been postponed to 24 April 2026 as former justice minister Sakeus Shanghala pursues leave to appeal a ruling dismissing his request for Judge Marelize du Plessis to recuse herself. Ricardo Gustavo's lawyer argues the repeated delays infringe the accused's right to a speedy trial and violate constitutional rights.
16 April 2026 · New Era →
Samherji defends against N$18.3 billion Fishcor lawsuit
A Scottish litigation firm is pursuing a US$1 billion claim against Icelandic fishing company Samherji on behalf of Namibia's state-owned Fishcor, alleging the company used bribes and corruption to obtain fishing quotas between 2012 and 2019. Samherji denies the allegations and says it is defending itself in London courts.
16 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 8 April

Supreme Court upholds freeze on Fishrot corruption saga assets
Namibia's Supreme Court has upheld a High Court order preventing those accused in the Fishrot corruption case from accessing forfeited assets, rejecting an appeal by former justice minister Sacky Shanghala, James Hatuikulipi and Pius Mwatelulo. The court found that the Anti-Corruption Commission had proper authority to conduct the investigation and that the restraint order remains valid pending the outcome of the criminal trial, which is scheduled to recommence in March 2026.
8 April 2026 · New Era →

Wednesday 1 April

Curators struggle to recover overseas assets in Fishrot scandal
Government-appointed curators tasked with seizing assets linked to the Fishrot corruption scandal face legal hurdles and institutional delays in accessing foreign properties owned by suspects, with a February 2025 court order needed to extend seizure powers abroad. The curators report ongoing obstacles including uncooperative banks, missed meetings with defendants, and slow responses from financial institutions, hampering their efforts to catalogue and recover assets valued at over N$317 million.
1 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 24 March

Judge Du Plessis refuses to step down from Fishrot trial
Acting judge Marilize du Plessis rejected an application by two accused in the Fishrot fraud and corruption case to recuse herself, finding that her factual observations about trial delays did not demonstrate bias and that her acquaintance with two state witnesses would not affect her impartiality.
24 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 10 March

Fishrot defendant opposes co-accused recusal bid against judge
Ricardo Gustavo, first accused in the Fishrot fraud and corruption case, says a recusal application by former attorney general Sacky Shanghala and James Hatuikulipi against acting judge Marilize du Plessis is intended to delay the trial. The judge is expected to rule on the recusal application on 23 March.
10 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 27 January

Fugitive Fishrot lawyer sues over N$1.3 million pension seizure
Marén de Klerk, a fugitive lawyer wanted in connection with the Fishrot fraud case, is challenging the Namibian Police's seizure of his N$1.3 million retirement annuity with Sanlam Namibia, arguing the seizure violates the Pension Funds Act and that pension benefits cannot be seized under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.
27 January 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 23 January

Judge finds Shanghala and co-accused delaying Fishrot trial
Acting judge Marilize du Plessis ruled that former justice minister Sacky Shanghala and two co-accused have been using a strategy to delay their Fishrot fraud, corruption and racketeering trial, which has been pending since October 2021 without witness testimony yet beginning. Du Plessis rejected their postponement applications and ordered the trial to continue, though she granted a brief postponement to allow defence representation time to prepare.
23 January 2026 · The Namibian →