Namibia's judicial administrative body that manages court operations, implements electronic payment systems, and handles staff matters including prosecutor and magistrate transfers.
News reports
Order a long-term news report on Office of the Judiciary
Every mention in the Namibian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
The Namibian
Office of the Judiciary was allocated N$512 million for 2026/27 financial year
“The Office of the Judiciary has been allocated N$512 million for the 2026/27 financial year.”
Judiciary gets N$512 million for 2026/27 financial yearNew Era
Office of the Judiciary plays important role in ensuring citizens can approach courts and have disputes fairly resolved
“He pointed out that institutions such as the Ministry of Justice, the Office of the Judiciary and Legal Aid Directorate play an important role in ensuring that all citizens, including those without financial means, can approach the courts and have their disputes fairly resolved.”
Judiciary: Evolution 36 years laterInformanté
Office of the Judiciary announced appointment of five new judges to High Court
“THE Office of the Judiciary has announced the appointment of five new judges to serve on the High Court, some of whom come from other southern African countries.”
New judges appointed to the High CourtThe Namibian
Office of the Judiciary has sworn in more women judges as of 2025
“Kantema said more women judges have been sworn into the Office of the Judiciary as of 2025.”
Minister Kantema applauds women’s leadership in justice sectorNew Era
Office of the Judiciary communicated to magistrates that part-heard matters involving travel will not be accommodated from 15 March to 15 April 2026 due to budgetary constraints
“On its part, the Office of the Judiciary communicated to all magistrates through Chief Magistrate Vanessa Stanley that due to ongoing budgetary constraints and a depleted magistracy S&T budget, no part-heard matters that involve magistrates travelling outside their assigned duty stations will be accommodated from 15 March 2026 until 15 April 2026.”
Magistracy, legal aid travel budgets depleted … budgetary constraints cripple JudiciaryThe Namibian
Office of the Judiciary has strongly condemned the attack on Justine Shiweda
“The Office of the Judiciary has strongly condemned the attack and described it as not merely an assault on one individual but on the rule of law and the justice system itself.”
State to pay medical bills of prosecutor who died after acid and gun attackThe Namibian
The Office of the Judiciary is working to ensure the magistrate is available
“She added that the Office of the Judiciary is working to ensure the magistrate is available.”
Ondangwa doctor Nakanduungile gets murder charge after prosecutor Shiweda diesThe 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 Ministry of Works and Transport defended its vehicle records after an audit found 53 government vehicles valued at N$35.5 million absent from the pool register, saying they were permanently allocated to various offices and agencies and therefore recorded in a different register instead.
16 October 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Works and Transport defended its vehicle records after an audit found 53 government vehicles valued at N$35.5 million absent from the pool register, saying they were permanently allocated to various offices and agencies and therefore recorded in a different register instead.
16 October 2026 · The Namibian →
The ministry of works and transport has rejected an Auditor-General's finding that 53 newly acquired government vehicles worth N$35.5 million were "missing" or not recorded in the pool vehicle register, saying the vehicles were permanently allocated to specific government offices and recorded in a separate register.
16 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Benhardt Kukuri, executive director of Namibia's Office of the Judiciary, has been elected chairperson of the Southern and Eastern Africa Judicial Administrators' Association (Seaja) for a two-year term, giving Namibia leadership of the regional body that works to improve court administration and support timely justice delivery across southern and eastern Africa.
6 October 2026 · The Namibian →
First National Bank customers will no longer pay transaction fees when using FNB cards for bail and other magistrate court payments following the launch of speed point devices at courts. The initiative allows electronic payments through bank cards and digital channels, reducing reliance on cash and delays in bail processing.
5 October 2026 · The Namibian →
Benhardt Kukuri, executive director of the Office of the Judiciary, has been elected chairperson of the Southern and Eastern Africa Judicial Administrators' Association (SEAJAA) for a two-year term. The appointment gives Namibia an opportunity to strengthen judicial administration and institutional capacity across the region.
5 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
FNB Namibia has rolled out 42 Speedpoint payment devices at Magistrates' Courts in partnership with the Office of the Judiciary, enabling court users to make secure electronic payments for court-related fees instead of travelling to banking facilities.
2 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Office of the Judiciary has announced the reappointment of Benhardt Kukuri as its executive director for a further five-year term, effective 1 December 2026. The reappointment was made by Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare on the recommendation of Chief Justice Peter Shivute.
2 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Johan Strydom, Namibia's third chief justice who served in that role from 1999 to 2003 and continued in judicial roles until 2015, died at age 88 in Swakopmund on Friday. Current chief justice Peter Shivute praised Strydom's 38 years of public service and his contributions to constitutional, administrative, criminal, commercial, and other areas of law.
28 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Gert Johannes Cornelius "Johan" Strydom, who served as Namibia's third Chief Justice from 1999 to 2003 and continued as an acting Supreme Court judge until 2015, has died in Swakopmund at age 88. The Judiciary credited him with 38 years of public service and significant contributions to Namibian jurisprudence across multiple areas of law.
25 September 2026 · Informanté →
Retired chief justice Johan Strydom, who served as Namibia's first judge president after independence in 1990 and as chief justice from 1999 to 2003, has died at Swakopmund at age 88. Chief justice Peter Shivute said Strydom served with dedication across 38 years of public service and laid a strong foundation for the rule of law and judicial independence.
25 September 2026 · The Namibian →
A WhatsApp message circulating on social media falsely claimed the High Court had ruled in favour of same-sex marriage in Namibia. The office of the judiciary and the ministry of justice and labour relations have clarified that same-sex marriage remains illegal in Namibia.
16 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
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 →