Also known as: Justice Devittie · Judge Devittie · Acting Judge James Devittie
Acting judge who clarified High Court order requiring Namibia Airports Company to allow PUMA Energy to resume aviation fuelling operations at Eros and Ondangwa airports.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
The 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
“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 billThe Namibian
Acting judge James Devittie ordered the association not to implement its decision to expel Hanekom
“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’ societyThe Namibian
Devittie called on the association to show why the court should not review and set aside the expulsion decision
“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’ societyWindhoek Observer
Acting judge James Devittie found NAC had not complied with the April order
“Devittie consequently found that NAC had not complied with the April order.”
NAC ordered to let Puma resume airport fuellingInformanté
High Court Acting Judge James Devittie concluded that NAC had not complied with court order on refuelling business
“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 businessWindhoek Observer
Justice Devittie noted that the Electoral Act requires a transparent and open process for selecting ECN commissioners
“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 disputeThe Namibian
Acting judge James Devittie ordered payment of N$28.8 million against Elindis and three close corporations
“Acting judge James Devittie ordered the payment in a summary judgement granted on Friday.”
Court orders Elindi brothers to pay N$28m to DBNThe Namibian
Acting judge James Devittie ordered NHE to reinstate Titus in his former position or comparable one
“Devittie ordered the state-owned housing company to reinstate Titus in his former position or a comparable one on no less favourable terms than were applicable at the time of Titus' dismissal.”
Taxpayers to pay fired NHE employeeThe Namibian
James Devittie has been appointed acting judge of the High Court for three years
“A retired judge of the High Court of Zimbabwe, David Mangota, and a former judge of the High Court of Zimbabwe, James Devittie, have been appointed as acting judges of the High Court for three years.”
Non-Namibian judges meant to ease pressure of civil casesThe Namibian
James Devittie was appointed as acting judge of Namibia's High Court for three years
“A retired judge of the High Court of Zimbabwe, David Mangota, and a former judge of Zimbabwe's High Court, James Devittie, have also been appointed as acting judges of Namibia's High Court for three years, the Office of the Judiciary said.”
High Court appoints Zimbabwean and Botswanan judges as Esi Schimming-Chase makes Supreme Court historyThe 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.
17 hours ago · The Namibian →
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.
17 hours ago · The Namibian →
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.
18 hours ago · The Namibian →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →