Institutional body responsible for administering Namibia's courts, managing judicial staff, and facilitating judicial operations nationwide.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
The Namibian
Office of the Judiciary clarified how indigenous language interpreters are deployed at courts
“The Office of the Judiciary has clarified how indigenous language interpreters are deployed at courts, following concerns over the availability of Otjiherero and Damara/Nama interpretation services at the Opuwo Magistrate's Court.”
Judiciary clarifies interpreter deployment at Opuwo courtThe Namibian
The Office of the Judiciary operates subject to the direction of the chief justice and utilises a budget allocated directly to it by parliament
“This office operates subject to the direction of the chief justice and utilises a budget allocated directly to it by parliament, with the salary and benefits of judges being set by law.”
The Independence and Competence of JudgesThe Namibian
Office of the Judiciary spokesperson Vikitoria Hango said accused have the right to privacy; photographs require permission.
“"The accused also have the right to privacy. Unless you are just going to take your notes, it's okay. But the moment you want to take a picture, you must ask for permission. It has always been like that," Office of the Judiciary spokesperson Vikitoria Hango said this week.”
The Injustice of Selective JusticeThe Namibian
Office of the Judiciary announced public interviews of judge candidates for the High Court
“The announcement by the Office of the Judiciary that there will be public interviews of candidates nominated as judges of the High Court is a milestone in terms of transparency.”
Well Done, JudiciaryChief Justice Peter Shivute said professional demands on judicial officers must not come at the cost of their health, and emphasized a close relationship between judicial well-being and proper administration of justice. His remarks came at an event marking the UN-proclaimed International Day for Judicial Well-being on 25 July.
25 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Chief Justice Peter Shivute said professional demands on judicial officers must not come at the cost of their health, and emphasized a close relationship between judicial well-being and proper administration of justice. His remarks came at an event marking the UN-proclaimed International Day for Judicial Well-being on 25 July.
25 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Office of the Judiciary has transferred three prosecutors and two magistrates from the Ondangwa Magistrate Court to help them recover emotionally after colleague Justine Shiweda was murdered. Prosecutor General Martha Imalwa said the transfers aim to provide staff with a different environment to cope with trauma and stress from the incident.
22 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Political parties have called on deputy chief justice and judge president Petrus Damaseb to reject his nomination to serve on Tanzania's post-election violence commission of inquiry. Job Amupanda and the Independent Patriots for Change cite concerns over the process, Namibia's silence on alleged human rights abuses, and international criticism of previous Tanzanian inquiries, arguing that Damaseb's participation could lend credibility to a commission of uncertain independence.
8 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Affirmative Repositioning movement has criticised the Namibian government's decision to nominate Judge President and Deputy Chief Justice Petrus Damaseb to serve on a Tanzanian Presidential Commission of Inquiry into violence following Tanzania's October 2025 general election. AR accuses the authorities of compromising judicial independence and enabling a political whitewash of alleged human rights abuses.
6 August 2026 · Informanté →
Opposition parties AR and IPC have accused the Namibian government of compromising judicial independence by nominating deputy chief justice Petrus Damaseb to serve on a Tanzanian Presidential Commission of Inquiry investigating post-election violence. AR contends the nomination was a political act facilitated through government channels rather than proper judicial cooperation.
6 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Magistrates' and Judges' Association of Namibia has filed a High Court review application arguing that the Constitution requires judicial independence, but government control over magistrates' employment benefits and terms of service undermines this principle. The association seeks a declaration that certain provisions of the Magistrates Act 3 of 2003 are invalid, particularly those giving the executive power over magistrate transfers, discipline, removal, remuneration, and conditions of service.
6 August 2026 · New Era →
The Office of the Judiciary has begun assessing temporary premises in Nkurenkuru that could be converted into a magistrate's court as it establishes a permanent judicial presence in the region.
6 August 2026 · Namibian Sun →
Namibia's Deputy Chief Justice Petrus Damaseb has been nominated to serve on a Tanzanian presidential commission of inquiry investigating violence that followed Tanzania's October 2025 general elections, following a request from Tanzanian authorities for a Namibian High Court judge to join the commission.
5 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Magistrates' and Judges' Association of Namibia has asked the High Court to declare parts of the Magistrates Act unconstitutional, arguing that executive provisions give ministers controlling power over magistrate transfers, discipline, remuneration and conditions of service, contrary to the Constitution. The application challenges two government decisions on magistrate grading and benefits, including linking housing and transport allowances to public service salary grades, which the association says were made without proper consultation and violate judicial independence.
5 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Office of the Judiciary is offering an amnesty period from 3 August to 30 September 2026 for public members to pay outstanding traffic fines, including admission of guilt fines where payment dates have expired. Payments may be made in person at the relevant court during business hours or via Electronic Funds Transfer.
5 August 2026 · Informanté →
Motorists with expired admission of guilt traffic fines can now settle outstanding fines via electronic funds transfer from August 3 to September 30, without appearing in court. The Office of the Judiciary and police announced the amnesty to help clear outstanding traffic matters and reduce case backlogs, though the Namibia Bus and Taxi Association argues the government should consider writing off fines instead.
4 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Independent Patriots for Change has welcomed the Office of the Judiciary's two-month traffic fine amnesty (3 August to 30 September) but says it must be followed by reforms to address challenges facing public transport operators, including fast-tracking a public passenger road transport bill and constructing more public transport bays.
4 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Office of the Judiciary has announced a nationwide amnesty period from 3 August to 30 September for motorists with outstanding traffic admission of guilt fines. Payments can be made in person at the relevant district court or via EFT, with motorists required to use their summons number and place of trial as reference.
3 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Motorists with outstanding traffic admissions of guilt fines have been offered a two-month amnesty from 3 August to 30 September to settle their fines, including those whose payment deadlines have expired. Payments can be made in person at district courts during working hours or via electronic funds transfer.
3 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Office of the Judiciary is preparing to facilitate the hearing and determination of divorce matters in Magistrates' Courts countrywide, with administrative, operational, and procedural processes currently being finalised. The public will be notified once the service is ready to commence.
19 June 2026 · Informanté →
The Office of the Judiciary announced that the Omuthiya Periodical Court will commence operations on Monday, 8 June 2026, providing essential judicial services including criminal proceedings, marriage solemnization, maintenance disputes, and bail payments to residents of Oshikoto Region who previously had to travel to Ondangwa Magistrate's Court.
5 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Office of the Prosecutor General announced the death of senior legal clerk Johannes Kondjeleni, aged 34, on Saturday. The office described him as a hardworking and dedicated staff member who had joined the Prosecutor General's office on 1 May 2025 after previously serving in the Office of the Judiciary since 1 February 2020.
24 May 2026 · The Namibian →
The government has allocated N$512 million to the Office of the Judiciary for the 2026/2027 financial year, with N$497 million for operations and N$15 million for development projects including construction of magistrates' courts in Nkurenkuru and Katima Mulilo. The allocation reflects the government's commitment to strengthening the justice system and expanding court capacity in underserved areas.
8 April 2026 · New Era →
The Office of the Judiciary has been allocated N$512 million for the 2026/27 financial year, with N$15 million directed to development expenditure including the construction of magistrates' courts at Nkurenkuru and Katima Mulilo. The allocation represents a total decrease of N$88.96 million from the previous financial year.
2 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's judicial system has transformed from a racially discriminatory colonial and apartheid-era instrument into a constitutional democracy grounded in the rule of law and equal protection. Since independence in 1990, reforms including the Bill of Rights, Legal Aid Directorate, and increased Namibianisation of judicial leadership have significantly broadened access to justice for all citizens.
20 March 2026 · New Era →
The Office of the Judiciary has appointed five judges to the High Court, including three from other southern African countries on temporary contracts to address capacity constraints in the civil stream. The appointments are part of a temporary measure while longer-term domestic solutions are pursued.
10 March 2026 · Informanté →
Gender Equality Minister Emma Kantema has praised the growing presence of women in Namibia's judiciary, noting recent milestones including the appointment of the first permanent woman judge to the Supreme Court and increased representation of women judges and magistrates. She acknowledged these achievements as evidence of women's capacity to lead at the highest levels while also flagging safety concerns for female judicial officers, referencing the 2025 death of prosecutor Justine Shiweda.
8 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Rocco Nguvauva, chairperson of Omaheke Regional Council, said the new council will build on foundations laid by previous leadership, focusing on infrastructure development, basic service provision, and community empowerment while maintaining fiscal discipline and responsiveness to regional needs.
5 March 2026 · New Era →
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 →
Memos from the Office of the Judiciary and Ministry of Justice confirm severe budget shortages: the legal aid travel budget is depleted and legal aid counsel must seek to postpone out-of-station hearings; magistrates are barred from travelling outside duty stations for cases between 15 March and 15 April. Chief Justice Peter Shivute warned that underfunding and staff shortages threaten judicial capacity, with civil judges' workload rising 60% despite fewer cases being filed.
20 February 2026 · New Era →
Judge Beatrix de Jager postponed delivering a judgement to protect her health, citing an unsustainable workload and workforce shortage that she described as "inhuman." Chief Justice Peter Shivute confirmed that judges are under immense pressure, with civil judges managing an average of 614 cases each in 2025, and called for urgent judicial appointments and support.
12 February 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Justice has confirmed it will cover all medical expenses for prosecutor Justine Shiweda, who died in December 2025 following a brutal October attack in which she was shot five times and had acid thrown on her body. The Ondangwa regional control prosecutor spent four months in hospital before succumbing to complications from her injuries; one suspect, a medical doctor, has been charged with murder and conspiracy.
11 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Ondangwa doctor Fillemon Nakanduungile is facing murder and conspiracy charges following the death of prosecutor Justine Shiweda, who died from injuries sustained in a violent acid attack on 17 October. Nakanduungile is accused of conspiring with a criminal gang that shot and threw corrosive acid at the prosecutor.
9 February 2026 · The Namibian →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah warned that prolonged backlog of cases, particularly those involving abuse of public resources, weakens public confidence in Namibia's state institutions. Chief Justice Peter Shivute cited a critical shortage of judicial officers and rising caseloads, with magistrate court backlogs growing from 57,090 cases at end of 2024 to 63,679 at end of 2025.
7 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Court proceedings in Opuwo have been delayed due to a shortage of magistrates and interpreters, with one magistrate managing two court rolls and inadequate coverage for Otjiherero and Damara/Nama speakers. A local lawyer warns the delays violate the right to fair trial, while the judiciary says it faces structural challenges in interpreting all indigenous languages across courts.
3 February 2026 · The Namibian →