Also known as: Judge Ueitele · Judge Shafimana Ueitele · Deputy judge president Shafimana Ueitele
Deputy judge president who dismissed applications to restrict public access to court proceedings, including a defamation case involving the NCIS director.
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June 2026
The Namibian
Deputy judge president Shafimana Ueiteleruledleasehold right does not terminate upon death of holder
Source
“I, therefore, find that the legal position is in accordance with the common law, namely that a leasehold right does not terminate upon the death of the holder.”
Deputy judge president Shafimana Ueitelewas informedthat the lawsuit between the two men has been settled
Source
“A settlement agreement signed by Hauwanga and Nghinananye, who is also known as Potgieter Vilho and Toivo Simeon, has been made an order of the Windhoek High Court after deputy judge president Shafimana Ueitele was informed that the lawsuit between the two men has been settled.”
Deputy judge president Shafimana Ueiteledismissedapplication to have defamation case heard in secret
Source
“Ueitele dismissed Nghipandua's application for the defamation claim against him to be heard in camera, that all documents filed in the case be kept secret and that the media be prohibited from reporting on court documents relating to the case.”
High Court deputy judge president Shafimana Ueiteleruled on 19 May that broad claims about national security were not enoughto justify secrecy in court proceedings
Source
“High Court deputy judge president Shafimana Ueitele ruled on 19 May that broad claims about national security were not enough to justify secrecy in court proceedings.”
Deputy judge president Shafimana Ueiteleordered thatthe application for summary judgement be filed by 27 March
Source
“The application for a summary judgement should be filed by 27 March, deputy judge president Shafimana Ueitele ordered on Monday, when he postponed the bank's case against the three defendants to 30 April for a status hearing.”
Deputy judge president Shafimana Ueiteleordered provisional winding up ofEnercon Namibia and Erongo Petroleum
Source
“Deputy judge president Shafimana Ueitele ordered the provisional winding up of the company Enercon Namibia and the close corporation Erongo Petroleum, which by November 2023 owed a combined amount of more than N$381 million to a Namcor subsidiary, in a judgement delivered in the Windhoek High Court last week.”
Red Soil Energy and Mineral Exploration lost its Supreme Court challenge against the mines and energy minister's refusal of a petroleum exploration licence for offshore blocks in southern Namibia. The company had argued it was treated unfairly and that blocks were reserved for politically connected individuals, but the court upheld the minister's decision based on the company's failure to demonstrate required technical and financial capacity.
Why it matters
The Supreme Court's upheld rejection of Red Soil's oil licence affirms judicial oversight of resource allocation and transparency in energy sector licensing.
Red Soil Energy and Mineral Exploration lost its Supreme Court challenge against the mines and energy minister's refusal of a petroleum exploration licence for offshore blocks in southern Namibia. The company had argued it was treated unfairly and that blocks were reserved for politically connected individuals, but the court upheld the minister's decision based on the company's failure to demonstrate required technical and financial capacity.
A High Court judge ruled that a leasehold right granted under the Communal Land Reform Act of 2005 does not end with the death of the right holder and can form part of their estate. The court also determined that a deceased estate and its executor have a stronger claim to the land than someone occupying it without a leasehold right.
Benjamin Hauwanga and Simeon Nghinananye have settled a defamation case in which Hauwanga sued Nghinananye for N$500 000. Under the settlement made an order of the Windhoek High Court, Nghinananye agreed to publicly apologise and retract allegations, while Hauwanga withdrew his claim and waived legal costs; Nghinananye must pay N$200 000 if he repeats the defamatory allegations within five years.
Deputy judge president Shafimana Ueitele dismissed an application by Namibia Central Intelligence Service director general Bamba Nghipandua to have a defamation case heard in secret, ruling that a clear case showing it is truly necessary must be made before restricting public access to court proceedings on national security grounds.
The High Court has dismissed an urgent application by Namibia Central Intelligence Service director general Sinsy Nghipandua to have a defamation case heard behind closed doors, with deputy judge president Shafimana Ueitele ruling that broad national security claims do not justify secrecy in court proceedings. The case stems from a defamation lawsuit filed by senior public servant Fiina Elago against the NCIS and the minister of home affairs, claiming an NCIS official falsely stated her security vetting could not be finalised due to a pending case with her previous employer, which she denies.
The Windhoek High Court dismissed an application by the Namibia Central Intelligence Service to hold a secret hearing in a N$1.8 million defamation lawsuit and to restrict media reporting on court documents. Judge Shafimana Ueitele ruled on 19 May 2026 that citizens have a right to know and press freedom must be upheld, rejecting NCIS Director-General Bamba Nghipandua's claim that disclosure would expose the agency's inner workings.
Amanda and Barnard Jantjies are scheduled to stand trial beginning 1 June in the Windhoek High Court on charges including fraud, theft and money laundering totalling N$9.9 million, allegedly committed while Amanda worked as a bookkeeper for bus transport service Ekonolux.
Former information and communication technology minister Peya Mushelenga will be sworn into the National Assembly on Friday to fill the parliamentary vacancy left by James Uerikua's death, according to NA spokesperson Sakeus Kadhikwa.
Red Soil Energy has appealed to the Supreme Court over the mines ministry's 2021 rejection of its petroleum exploration licence application for four offshore oil blocks. The company claims it was treated unfairly and differently from competing applicants, while the minister argues the application was incomplete and lacked required financial documentation.
Iuze Mukube Piet Ritief Gamaseb (48) is set to stand trial from May 2026 for the alleged murder of his common-law wife Davie Bokkie Hannes in Outjo on 12 March 2022. He faces charges of murder and defeating the course of justice; the state alleges he struck her with an iron bar following an argument and then transported her body to her mother's house.
Johan Paru Morkel's trial is scheduled for April–June 2026 on charges including seven counts of rape and three counts of trafficking in children. Morkel is accused of luring young girls to his house under the pretext of applying gold to their teeth and then sexually assaulting them.
Bank Windhoek is suing businessman Malakia Elindi, who is charged in the Namcor fraud case, for about N$2.3 million owed on a mortgage loan and overdraft facility, and seeking to have ten properties with a combined market value of N$9.4 million sold to recover the debt. Elindi, who is currently in custody awaiting a High Court judgement on a bail appeal, has claimed assets worth N$113 million but faces mortgage bonds totalling N$10.5 million against the properties.
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.