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 High Court judge presiding over the Fishrot fraud and corruption trial involving former attorney general Sacky Shanghala and others.
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The Namibian
Acting judge Marilize du Plessis struck off Shuudifonya's notice for leave to appeal as a nullity
“"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.”
Fishrot case appeal attempt failsThe Namibian
Acting judge Marilize du Plessis postponed her ruling on the request to proceed with trial to 22 May
“Du Plessis postponed her ruling on the request to proceed with the trial to 22 May.”
Esau wants delayed Fishrot trial to now proceedThe Namibian
Acting judge Marilize du Plessis dismissed the application for her recusal
“Du Plessis dismissed the application for her recusal three weeks ago.”
Fishrot accused asks for trial to proceedNew Era
Marilize du Plessis is the presiding judge in the Fishrot trial
“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.”
Fishrot in cul-de-sac …trial stalls amid legal stalemateNew Era
Acting Judge Marilize du Plessis dismissed Shanghala's application to recuse herself from the case
“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.”
Shanghala’s recusal application dismissedNew Era
du Plessis won nearest-to-the-pin prize on hole 17
“Marc Schafer secured the prize on hole 13, and du Plessis added another accolade to her name by winning the nearest-to-the-pin challenge on hole 17.”
Du Plessis, Beuke claim Betterball titleThe Namibian
Judge Marilize du Plessis dismissed attempt to get her off the Fishrot case
“An attempt to get acting judge Marilize du Plessis to recuse herself from the Fishrot fraud, corruption and racketeering case failed in the High Court at Windhoek Correctional Facility on Monday.”
Judge Du Plessis dismisses attempt to get her off Fishrot caseInformanté
High Court Judge Marilize du Plessis dismissed application by Fishrot-accused to remove her from case
“High Court Judge Marilize du Plessis has dismissed an application by Fishrot-accused former Minister of Justice Sacky Shanghala and his co-accused to remove her from the Fishrot case.”
High Court rejects Shanghala’s bid to remove judge in Fishrot caseNew Era
Judge Marilize du Plessis ruled the warning statement and confession admissible
“Judge du Plessis found that the statement and confession were admissible in early March.”
Court admits murder accused’s confessionInformanté
Judge Marilize du Plessis allowed Gustavo's late-filed heads of arguments to be taken into court record
“HIGH Court judge Marilize du Plessis has allowed the heads of arguments filed by Ricardo Gustavo, in which he opposes an application made by Sackeus Shanghala to recuse the Fishrot judge, to be taken into the court record.”
Judge approves late filing of arguments of Gustavo opposing judge’s removalAn 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.
6 May 2026 · The Namibian →
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.
6 May 2026 · The Namibian →
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.
27 April 2026 · The Namibian →
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.
17 April 2026 · The Namibian →
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.
14 April 2026 · New Era →
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.
25 March 2026 · New Era →
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.
24 March 2026 · New Era →
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 →
High Court Judge Marilize du Plessis has dismissed an application by Fishrot-accused former Minister of Justice Sacky Shanghala and co-accused to remove her from the case, rejecting their allegations that she was biased and lacked experience to preside over the trial.
23 March 2026 · Informanté →
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.
19 March 2026 · New Era →
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.
12 March 2026 · New Era →
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 →
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.
9 March 2026 · Informanté →
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.
13 February 2026 · The Namibian →
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.
6 February 2026 · The Namibian →
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.
5 February 2026 · New Era →
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 →
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.
22 January 2026 · New Era →
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.
22 January 2026 · Informanté →
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.
21 January 2026 · Informanté →
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.
21 January 2026 · Informanté →
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.
21 January 2026 · The Namibian →
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.
20 January 2026 · New Era →
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.
20 January 2026 · The Namibian →
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.
19 January 2026 · The Namibian →