Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
September 2026
The Namibian
Lawyer Milton Engelbrechtsaysthe application of Namibia's immigration laws relating to foreign nationals married to Namibian citizens has not always been consistent
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“Lawyer Milton Engelbrecht says the application of Namibia's immigration laws relating to foreign nationals married to Namibian citizens has not always been consistent.”
Milton Engelbrechtwithdrew fromrepresenting Murangi after receiving conflicting instructions from his client
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“With the trial of murder accused Tjizake Murangi (25) scheduled to start in the Windhoek High Court yesterday, defence lawyer Milton Engelbrecht informed judge Claudia Claasen he was withdrawing from the matter after receiving conflicting instructions from his client.”
Defence lawyer Milton Engelbrechtinformed magistratehe wants to apply his mind to the psychiatric report on his client
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“Defence lawyer Milton Engelbrecht informed magistrate Olga Muharukua in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court yesterday that he wants to apply his mind to the report compiled after his client, Giano Seibeb, underwent a period of psychiatric evaluation, and would not give his views on the report at this stage.”
“Milton Engelbrecht, the lawyer representing accused number one, Caroline Nkata, in the matter, said that the court is dealing with evidence obtained under Section 179 (1) (b) of Act 51 of 1977, potentially invoked incorrectly for cellphone data extraction.”
Milton Engelbrechtargued thatcellphone data extraction was conducted without legal authority
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“The subsequent search and obtaining of information were therefore conducted without legal authority and constituted an arbitrary violation of the accused's right to privacy under Article 13 of the Namibian Constitution.”
Following the Ministry of Home Affairs' introduction of domicile certificates for foreign nationals married to Namibian citizens, lawyers have raised concerns about fraudulent documents and marriages of convenience. They warn that the system needs proper checks to prevent fake documents and marriages entered into solely to obtain legal status, and note that Namibian law currently lacks provisions to revoke status even under certain circumstances.
Following the Ministry of Home Affairs' introduction of domicile certificates for foreign nationals married to Namibian citizens, lawyers have raised concerns about fraudulent documents and marriages of convenience. They warn that the system needs proper checks to prevent fake documents and marriages entered into solely to obtain legal status, and note that Namibian law currently lacks provisions to revoke status even under certain circumstances.
A Windhoek man found naked in State House in April has been ordered detained in a mental hospital or correctional facility with mental services pending a presidential decision on his release. A psychiatric evaluation concluded he is not fit to stand trial and cannot be held accountable for his actions.
Tjizake Murangi (25), accused of murdering his former girlfriend in a knife attack two years ago, will reapply for state-funded legal aid after his defence lawyer withdrew from the case citing conflicting instructions from his client. Murangi faces nine charges including murder and domestic violence-related offences.
Protasius Kuvirua (35) was found guilty in the High Court of murdering his girlfriend Auguste Jonas (28) with a knife at her flat in Otjiwarongo on 19 March 2023. He was also convicted of assault by threat after chasing another man while wielding a knife; Jonas died from a stab wound to the heart and had thirteen stab injuries recorded during post-mortem examination.
Defence lawyer Milton Engelbrecht says he needs time to consider a psychiatric evaluation report on his client, Giano Seibeb (29), who was arrested at State House in Windhoek on 30 April after allegedly being found naked on the premises. Seibeb's case has been postponed to 4 September.
A police detective testified in Windhoek High Court that a post-mortem examination found no evidence that a Walvis Bay resident allegedly murdered in December 2023 had been raped, though he could not exclude the possibility. Two men are on trial for murder, robbery, and rape in the case.
A Windhoek High Court judge has declared inadmissible alleged oral admissions by two men accused of murdering, raping, and robbing a Walvis Bay resident in December 2023, finding that the state failed to prove the accused were informed of their constitutional rights before questioning.
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.
Two Noordoewer men, Dirk von Weidts (75) and Jors Arrie (49), accused of raping a girl aged 10–11 between October 2020 and January 2021, will receive the verdict in their Windhoek High Court trial on 14 September. Judge Naomi Shivute postponed delivery of judgement after hearing closing arguments.
Quanito van Vuuren (28) and Sem Moses (22) pleaded not guilty to murder, two counts of rape, and robbery with aggravating circumstances in connection with the death of Vernon Gavin (53) in his Walvis Bay home on 30 December 2023. Moses denied being at the home at all, while Van Vuuren admitted being present but said he did not commit the crimes.
The ongoing trial of three Zimbabwean nationals accused of murdering nine-year-old Akundaishe Natalie Chipomho in Windhoek has stalled over the admissibility of cellphone evidence; the girl's burned body was found in a skip bin in January 2020, and defence counsel argues the search warrant used to obtain cellphone data invoked an incorrect statutory provision and failed to comply with legal safeguards.
The Fishrot case has been postponed to 24 April 2026 as former justice minister Sakeus Shanghala pursues leave to appeal a ruling dismissing his request for Judge Marelize du Plessis to recuse herself. Ricardo Gustavo's lawyer argues the repeated delays infringe the accused's right to a speedy trial and violate constitutional rights.
A warning statement from Edward Nkata, accused of murdering nine-year-old Akundaishe Natalie Chipomho in 2020, was read in Windhoek High Court, in which he claims he kicked the child during a confrontation and that she died the next day, after which he and his wife dumped and burned her body in a municipal skip container. Nkata and his wife Caroline, along with the child's mother Rachel Kureva, face charges including murder, violating a dead body, and related offences.
A neighbour testified in the trial of three accused of killing nine-year-old Akundaishe Natalie Chipomho that she witnessed aggressive beatings of children at the Nkata residence in Windhoek. The witness said she observed one child being hit with a belt and heard screaming that sounded like fear coming from the house, supporting State allegations that the accused kicked and beat the girl with objects, leaving her dead in a garage before her body was disposed of.
A former magistrate Jaco Kennedy and co-accused Raymond Cloete have failed in applications to be discharged on most counts in a rape trial before Windhoek High Court; Kennedy was discharged on only one of eight counts he sought to dismiss, while Cloete was unsuccessful on all three counts he applied to be discharged from.
Geoffrey Jeff Kasume, a 40-year-old Kenyan national, was charged with the murder of Regina Nambashu Kondombolo (33), whose body was found in her home in Otjomuise's Extension 2. The State opposed bail citing premature investigations, flight risk concerns, and allegations that Kasume may have tampered with evidence at the scene.
A 40-year-old Kenyan man appeared in court on a murder charge related to the death of a 33-year-old woman found in her Windhoek home on Monday. The woman was assaulted and strangled; the accused remains in custody with bail opposed, and his case has been postponed to 24 April for further investigations.
Quanito van Vuuren and Moses Sem are accused of murdering, raping, and robbing bank employee Vernon Gavin on 30 December 2023. Their trial date is expected to be set on 29 January 2026 after a pre-trial appearance before the Windhoek High Court.