Also known as: acting judge Marilize du Plessis · Judge Marilize du Plessis · High Court Judge Marilize du Plessis · Judge du Plessis · Liana du Plessis · De Plessis · Lourens du Plessis
Acting judge presiding over the Fishrot fraud trial and other High Court cases involving serious crimes in Namibia.
Acting judge Marilize du PlessispostponedFishrot case to 19 October
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“Acting judge Marilize du Plessis postponed the case at the end of an appearance by the 10 individuals charged in the matter in the High Court at Windhoek Correctional Facility yesterday.”
Du Plessisturned downapplication for her to step down from Fishrot case
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“In the petition, the Supreme Court is being asked to allow an appeal to be done against a ruling in which Du Plessis turned down an application for her to step down from the Fishrot case.”
Acting judge Marilize du Plessisdelivered judgement statingmagistrate properly evaluated evidence and was not wrong in denying bail to Marlien Conradie
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“In a judgement delivered yesterday, acting judge Marilize du Plessis said a magistrate who turned down a bail application by Windhoek resident Marlien Conradie (37) in January this year properly evaluated the evidence before her and was not wrong in coming to a conclusion that it would not be in the public interest or in the interest of the administration of justice to grant bail to Conradie.”
Acting judge Marilize du Plessisstruck off Shuudifonya's notice for leave to appealas a nullity
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“"It cannot be cured, since it amounts to a nullity," Du Plessis stated about Shuudifonya's notice for leave to appeal, which did not set out the grounds for his intended appeal.”
Marilize du Plessisis thepresiding judge in the Fishrot trial
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“Former justice minister Sacky Shanghala and his co-accused James Hatuikulipi are seeking leave to appeal to the Supreme Court the application that sought the recusal of the presiding judge, Marilize du Plessis.”
Acting Judge Marilize du PlessisdismissedShanghala's application to recuse herself from the case
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“Iuze Mukube Windhoek High Court Acting Judge Marilize du Plessis has dismissed an application to recuse herself from the case of former justice minister Sacky Shanghala, which is involving alleged corruption activities related to Namibian fishing quotas.”
State advocate Maggy Shiyagaya urged the court to convict Prostasius Kuvirua for the murder of Auguste Jonas, whom he allegedly stabbed 13 times with a knife in March 2023 at Otjiwarongo, following an argument after Jonas was found in her bedroom with another man. The State argued the evidence is overwhelming and corroborated by two witnesses who saw the accused leave with a bloody knife and continue stabbing the deceased outside.
State advocate Maggy Shiyagaya urged the court to convict Prostasius Kuvirua for the murder of Auguste Jonas, whom he allegedly stabbed 13 times with a knife in March 2023 at Otjiwarongo, following an argument after Jonas was found in her bedroom with another man. The State argued the evidence is overwhelming and corroborated by two witnesses who saw the accused leave with a bloody knife and continue stabbing the deceased outside.
The High Court has postponed the Fishrot fraud, corruption and racketeering case—concerning alleged unlawful allocation of Namibian fishing quotas—to 19 October. Former attorney general Sacky Shanghala, one of ten charged, said a Supreme Court petition challenging the judge's refusal to step down from the case remains pending, and a related civil application by four of the accused is scheduled for hearing on 15 September.
Salmaan Jacobs, former chairperson of the Public Service Commission, is expected to return to the Keetmanshoop Regional Court on 31 July for sentencing after the court postponed the matter for a fourth time, citing incomplete paperwork. Jacobs was convicted on a corruption charge last year after the state successfully appealed a 2014 not-guilty verdict.
Neels Jafta claimed overall honours at the sixth AB InBev Monthly Medal competition at Windhoek Golf Club, posting a nett score of 67. The event attracted 47 golfers competing for divisional honours and points toward the Tournament of Champions.
Windhoek High Court has dismissed a bail appeal by Marlien Conradie (37), who faces charges of fraud and money laundering involving N$40 million. Acting judge Marilize du Plessis upheld a magistrate's January decision to refuse bail, noting the substantial amount involved and Conradie's refusal to answer questions during the bail hearing.
An appeal filed by Fishrot accused Otneel Shuudifonya against a postponement ruling was struck off the High Court roll at Windhoek Correctional Facility after the acting judge found his notice for leave to appeal did not comply with Criminal Procedure Act requirements.
Defence lawyers for accused in the Fishrot fraud, corruption and racketeering case have argued that the trial of the 10 individuals charged should proceed while two accused pursue appeals against the judge's refusal to step down from the case.
A defence lawyer representing one of ten accused in the Fishrot fraud and corruption trial has argued to the High Court that proceedings should continue while appeals against earlier rulings are pursued, citing delays since 2021 and the constitutional right to trial within a reasonable period. Other defence lawyers largely supported the argument, though one disagreed, and the judge is scheduled to hear further oral arguments on 24 April.
Proceedings in the high-profile corruption trial of former justice minister Sacky Shanghala and others have stalled over a disagreement about which of two competing appeals applications should be heard first—a recusal challenge or a stay-of-proceedings request. The court has adjourned until 5 May 2026 to resolve the procedural impasse.
Acting Judge Marilize du Plessis has dismissed an application by former justice minister Sacky Shanghala and James Hatuikulipi to recuse her from their corruption trial related to fishing quotas, finding that the applicants relied on inapplicable civil procedure rules and that their bias claims lacked sufficient factual foundation.
Cor Beuke and Liana du Plessis won the Bank Windhoek Independence Betterball tournament at Windhoek Golf Club with 52 points, beating 28 other teams in a 58-golfer field that celebrated Namibia's independence through sport.
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.
An Acting High Court Judge has ruled that a confession and warning statement made by Protasius Kuvirua, accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend Auguste Ndemupandula Jonas in Otjiwarongo in March 2023, are admissible as evidence, rejecting the defence's challenge that the confession was involuntary and made while the accused was in shock.
Ex-Cabinet minister Sacky Shanghala is seeking to recuse Acting Judge Marilize du Plessis from the protracted Fishrot corruption trial, arguing her previous pronouncements show bias and prejudice, while co-accused Ricardo Gustavo opposes the application as a delay tactic unsupported by facts of actual bias.
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.
High Court judge Marilize du Plessis has accepted late-filed arguments by Ricardo Gustavo opposing an application by co-accused Sackeus Shanghala to recuse her from the Fishrot trial. Gustavo argues that Shanghala has not shown evidence of bias, while Shanghala contends that Gustavo's lawyer is not ready for trial, citing scheduling conflicts.
Ricardo Gustavo's legal team says they will "oppose vehemently" an application by former attorney general Sacky Shanghala and co-accused James Hatuikulipi to have High Court judge Marilize du Plessis step down from the Fishrot fraud and corruption trial. Shanghala claims Du Plessis showed bias through remarks suggesting the accused were using delaying tactics, but the state is also opposing the recusal application, with arguments scheduled for 9 March.
Former attorney general Sacky Shanghala and co-accused James Hatuikulipi have filed an application asking acting judge Marilize du Plessis to step down from their Fishrot fraud, corruption and racketeering trial, alleging bias and partiality. This is the third recusal application in the case; two previous judges turned down similar requests.
Former justice minister Sacky Shanghala has applied for Acting Judge Marilize du Plessis to recuse herself from presiding over the Fishrot matter, alleging bias and apprehension of partiality based on the Judge's statements and treatment of defence applications. The matter has been postponed to 11 February 2026, with a hearing on the recusal application scheduled for 9 March 2026.
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.
After nearly six years, the fishing quota corruption trial in which Namibian fisheries resources were allegedly stolen through deals with Icelandic company Samherji will begin on March 9, 2026. Acting Judge Marilize du Plessis rejected multiple postponement applications from former minister Sacky Shanghala and co-accused, ruling that lengthy delays in the civil review process and years of court proceedings weighed against further delay.
High Court Judge Marilize du Plessis postponed the Fishrot trial to 9–20 March 2026 after defendants' unsuccessful bid for a longer postponement pending a collateral review against the Anti-Corruption Commission. Sackeus Shanghala indicated he will appeal the judge's refusal, challenging the ACC's authority to have investigated evidence under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act prior to 2023.
A 38-year-old man was sentenced to life imprisonment by the High Court for murdering his estranged wife on 16 February 2024 in Rocky Crest, stabbing her 27 times with scissors and a knife after being served divorce papers. The judge noted the extreme violence and domestic setting as aggravating factors.
Former Justice Minister Sackeus Shanghala has criticized the state's decision to pay prosecutors N$1.5 million in the Fishrot corruption case while denying similar funding to defence counsel, arguing it violates fair trial principles and creates unequal arms between prosecution and defence. The High Court has postponed the matter to 21 January 2026 for a ruling on the remuneration dispute and whether the trial should be postponed.
A High Court judge sentenced Marlo McNab to life imprisonment for the murder of his wife Helen Onesimus, whom he stabbed 27 times at her home in Windhoek in February 2024. The judge described the killing as "an act of unbridled and horrific violence" and noted the epidemic of gender-based violence in Namibia, while acknowledging McNab's plea of guilty and expressed remorse.
Robertho Marlo McNab, 38, received a life sentence for the murder of his estranged wife Dapeua Helen Onesmus, whom he stabbed 27 times in her Windhoek garage on 16 February 2024, two days after being served with divorce papers. Acting Judge Marilize du Plessis described the attack as "unbridled and horrific violence" and cited the presence of the couple's 14-year-old son in the house as an aggravating factor.
Gabriel Gasa (25) was sentenced in the High Court to 45 years imprisonment for murdering and raping 18-year-old Maria Stoffie at a farm in Gobabis district in August 2022. Acting judge Marilize du Plessis noted Gasa's lack of remorse and cited the need to send a clear message against gender-based violence in response to the community's continued outcry.
Marlo McNab was sentenced to life imprisonment after admitting to the murder of his estranged wife Helen Onesimus, whom he stabbed 27 times with knives and scissors at her home in February 2024. The judge cited the epidemic proportions of gender-based violence in Namibia when handing down the sentence.