Rundu Magistrates’ Court Open, but Hearings Halt as Magistrates Withhold Labour
By TUW
Operations at the Rundu Magistrates’ Court remained limited on Monday, with no hearings taking place despite the court being open to the public. This comes after magistrates across the country began withholding their labour, following an official notice indicating that all magistrates in Namibia would take similar action effective 24 November 2025.
The nationwide move stems from growing frustration over long delays and what magistrates describe as poor communication from both the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Justice regarding the implementation of long-promised benefits.
When The Updated World visited the Rundu court for comment, officials on duty said they were not authorised to speak to the media. Meanwhile, individuals who had arrived for scheduled cases expressed disappointment and fatigue. Many said they had been waiting for hours without updates.
One frustrated resident waiting for his hearing said proper communication would have helped ease the situation. Others were seen seated in waiting areas, confused about the lack of proceedings and complaining that “no clear information” had been given since the morning.
According to information obtained from reliable sources, the Magistrates’ Association of Namibia (MJA) has been raising concerns for more than a year. The association noted that magistrates have been without the benefits that were agreed upon “in principle” since 2 October 2023, despite several engagements with the Judicial Service Commission, the Office of the Judiciary, and the Ministry of Justice.
A notice circulated on social media, displayed at some magistrates’ offices but not seen at the Rundu court, stated that magistrates were informed on 19 November that the corrected benefit schedule had been submitted to the Minister of Finance for approval. However, according to the MJA, no written feedback, clarification, or timetable for implementation has been provided since.
The association further highlighted that while N$8 million has already been allocated for the rollout of the benefits, there has been “no clarity, no written correspondence, and no meaningful progress” from the authorities.
