Namibia Minute.
Friday, 24 April 2026
A daily Namibian brief · Est. 2026
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Person

Marilize du Plessis

Also known as: Du Plessis · acting judge Marilize du Plessis · Judge Marilize du Plessis · High Court Judge Marilize du Plessis · Judge du Plessis · Liana du Plessis · Acting High Court Judge du Plessis · De Plessis · presiding judge

Acting High Court judge presiding over the Fishrot fraud and corruption trial, who rejected recusal applications from defendants in 2026.

Politics

Fishrot trial should proceed despite ongoing appeals, defence argues

The News

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 →

Friday 17 April

  1. Fishrot trial should proceed despite ongoing appeals, defence argues

    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 →

Tuesday 14 April

  1. Fishrot trial stalls as court grapples with legal procedure dispute

    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 →

Wednesday 25 March

  1. Windhoek High Court dismisses Shanghala's recusal application

    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 →

Tuesday 24 March

  1. Du Plessis and Beuke win annual Windhoek golf tournament

    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 →

  2. 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 →

Monday 23 March

  1. High Court judge rejects Fishrot accused's bias challenge

    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 →

Thursday 19 March

  1. Court finds accused's confession in murder case admissible

    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 →

Thursday 12 March

  1. Fishrot defendants clash over judge removal bid

    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 →

Tuesday 10 March

  1. 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 →

Monday 9 March

  1. Judge allows Gustavo's late arguments against his judge's removal

    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 →

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