James Devittie

Also known as: Justice Devittie · Judge Devittie · Acting Judge James Devittie · High Court Judge James Devittie

Acting judge who ruled on Puma Energy's airport fuelling operations at Eros and Andimba Toivo ya Toivo airports in 2026.

2026-03-042026-10-25

News reports

Order a long-term news report on James Devittie

Every mention in the Namibian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.

What’s been said

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

October 2026
22 OctWindhoek Observer
Acting judge James Devittie said Sankwasa's letter did not expressly require immediate cancellation of the debt collection agreement
Source
“In a judgment delivered on 20 October, acting judge James Devittie said Sankwasa's letter of 10 September instructed the council to act in accordance with the Attorney General's legal opinion by the end of September, but did not expressly require the immediate cancellation of the five-year debt collection agreement.”
RedForce loses bid to block Sankwasa’s directive
20 OctThe Namibian
Acting judge James Devittie is expected to deliver a judgement in RedForce's separate court case against municipality and Sankwasa
Source
“Acting judge James Devittie is expected to deliver a judgement in that case today.”
RedForce stays on as Walvis Bay debt collector
5 OctInformanté
High Court Judge James Devittie granted the preservation order on 2 October 2026
Source
“High Court Judge James Devittie granted the preservation order on 2 October 2026.”
PG seizes funds linked to N$41 million of Marlien Conradie
September 2026
9 SeptThe Namibian
Acting judge James Devittie found that NYC failed to establish required performance-management processes but this did not give Schwartz-Gowases automatic legal right to back pay
Source
“Acting judge James Devittie, however, found that although the National Youth Council (NYC) had failed to establish the required performance-management and assessment processes during Schwartz-Gowases' first term, this did not give her an automatic legal right to be paid for a period when she was no longer employed and had rendered no services.”
Youth council escapes former boss’ salary bill
9 SeptThe Namibian
Acting judge James Devittie ordered the association not to implement its decision to expel Hanekom
Source
“In a judgement delivered in the Windhoek High Court on Friday, acting judge James Devittie ordered the Meatmaster Sheep Breeders' Association of Namibia not to implement its decision to expel Maltahöhe area farmer Johnny Hanekom as a member of the association.”
Court stops farmer’s expulsion from sheep breeders’ society
9 SeptThe Namibian
Devittie called on the association to show why the court should not review and set aside the expulsion decision
Source
“Devittie also called on the association to show on 15 October why the court should not review and set aside the association's decision to expel Hanekom from its membership for one year.”
Court stops farmer’s expulsion from sheep breeders’ society
August 2026
14 AugWindhoek Observer
Acting judge James Devittie found NAC had not complied with the April order
Source
“Devittie consequently found that NAC had not complied with the April order.”
NAC ordered to let Puma resume airport fuelling
13 AugInformanté
High Court Acting Judge James Devittie concluded that NAC had not complied with court order on refuelling business
Source
“He thus concluded that the NAC had not complied with the order.”
High Court orders Namibia Airports Company to allow PUMA Energy to resume fuelling business
July 2026
15 JulWindhoek Observer
Justice Devittie noted that the Electoral Act requires a transparent and open process for selecting ECN commissioners
Source
“Justice Devittie noted that the Electoral Act requires a transparent and open process for selecting ECN commissioners, including public interviews of shortlisted candidates.”
High Court adjudicates ECN appointment records dispute
6 JulThe Namibian
Acting judge James Devittie ordered payment of N$28.8 million against Elindis and three close corporations
Source
“Acting judge James Devittie ordered the payment in a summary judgement granted on Friday.”
Court orders Elindi brothers to pay N$28m to DBN

Politics

High Court rejects RedForce's urgent bid against minister's directive

The News

The High Court ruled that urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa did not expressly direct the municipality of Walvis Bay to immediately terminate its RedForce Debt Management contract, striking the company's urgent application and leaving its substantive challenge unresolved. The judge found RedForce had failed to establish urgency and ordered the company to pay the minister's legal costs.

22 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Thursday 22 October

High Court rejects RedForce's urgent bid against minister's directive
The High Court ruled that urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa did not expressly direct the municipality of Walvis Bay to immediately terminate its RedForce Debt Management contract, striking the company's urgent application and leaving its substantive challenge unresolved. The judge found RedForce had failed to establish urgency and ordered the company to pay the minister's legal costs.
22 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Tuesday 20 October

High Court temporarily halts Walvis Bay's contract termination with RedForce
A High Court judge has temporarily suspended the Walvis Bay Town Council's decision to terminate its five-year debt collection contract with RedForce Debt Management. The council voted to end the contract in October following criticism from the minister of rural and urban development, who alleged RedForce was charging residents double the amount owed and that the contract was legally invalid.
20 October 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 5 October

PG secures preservation order on Conradie fraud funds
The Acting Prosecutor General has obtained a preservation order to seize funds linked to fraud-accused Marlien Conradie, who allegedly stole N$41 million from her employer Western Investments Namibia over nine years. The High Court ordered seizure of N$32,482.56 from an account belonging to Conradie's husband.
5 October 2026 · Informanté →

Wednesday 9 September

Labour Court dismisses youth council director's back pay claim
The Labour Court has dismissed former National Youth Council director Calista Schwartz-Gowases' claim for back pay covering nine months between her consecutive employment contracts, ruling that although the NYC failed to establish required performance-management processes, this did not entitle her to compensation for a period when she was no longer employed and had rendered no services.
9 September 2026 · The Namibian →
High Court halts farmer's one-year expulsion from sheep breeders association
A Windhoek High Court ordered the Meatmaster Sheep Breeders' Association of Namibia not to implement its decision to expel Maltahöhe farmer Johnny Hanekom for one year after he held an auction of sheep a day after another breeder's auction, breaching the organisation's seven-day rule. Hanekom, a founding member and former chairperson, filed the urgent application in early August; he died in an aircraft crash near Maltahöhe on 30 August.
9 September 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 14 August

High Court rules NAC must allow Puma to resume airport fuelling
The Windhoek High Court has clarified that an earlier order restoring Puma Energy Namibia's possession of airport facilities at Eros and Andimba Toivo ya Toivo airports also required the Namibia Airports Company to allow Puma to resume its aviation fuelling business. Acting judge James Devittie found that restoring physical possession alone was insufficient, and that the April order covered both corporeal possession of the premises and the incorporeal aspect of operating the fuelling business.
14 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Thursday 13 August

High Court orders NAC to allow PUMA Energy to resume fuelling
The Windhoek High Court has ordered the Namibia Airports Company to reinstate PUMA Energy on the premises of Eros and Ondangwa airports so it may resume aviation fuelling services, following NAC's alleged lockout of PUMA employees in March 2026.
13 August 2026 · Informanté →

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 →

Wednesday 15 July

High Court declines ECN commissioner interdict but affirms transparency concerns
MP Job Amupanda welcomed the High Court's judgment in his case against the Speaker of the National Assembly and others, saying the ruling declined to grant an interdict but affirmed his position that ECN commissioner appointments must comply with constitutional transparency and accountability principles. Amupanda had sought to stop Parliament from approving ECN nominees until key selection process documents were disclosed.
15 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Monday 6 July

Court orders Elindi brothers to pay N$28.8m to DBN
A Windhoek High Court judge has ordered businessmen Peter and Malakia Elindi and three close corporations to pay N$28.8 million to the Development Bank of Namibia in a summary judgement, arising from loan agreements with the fuel company Enercon Namibia, of which the Elindis are former directors and shareholders.
6 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 1 June

Labour Court orders NHE to reinstate fired executive with backpay
The Labour Court found that the National Housing Enterprise's 2021 dismissal of former executive Willem Titus was unfair and ordered the company to reinstate him within 30 days and pay backpay from December 2021 to reinstatement, less any income earned in alternative employment. The court upheld findings that Titus committed misconduct but determined dismissal was disproportionately harsh a penalty.
1 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 12 March

Three non-Namibian judges appointed to ease High Court civil caseload
The Judicial Service Commission says it has appointed three judges from southern African countries to Namibia's High Court on fixed-term contracts to address a shortage of civil judges caused by retirements and the reluctance of senior legal practitioners to accept permanent positions. The commission states the measure is temporary while it develops domestic solutions, including a training programme for aspirant judges.
12 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 4 March

Three foreign judges appointed to Namibia's High Court
The Office of the Judiciary appointed judges from Zimbabwe and Botswana to Namibia's High Court, effective March 2025, as part of efforts to address critical shortages in the judiciary. Esi Schimming-Chase was sworn in as Namibia's first permanent female Supreme Court judge, and Chief Justice Peter Shivute noted that women now constitute the majority of the High Court bench.
4 March 2026 · The Namibian →