Magistrates demand further salary records from the justice and finance ministers

The Magistrates’ and Judges’ Association of Namibia has demanded further documents from the justice and finance ministers, arguing that the record supplied in its High Court review application does not contain all relevant material relating to magistrates’ salary and allowance decisions.In a notice dated 22 October 2026, the association calls on the two ministers to disclose seven categories of documents within five days of receiving the notice.The request follows its examination of the review record filed electronically on 2 October. The association contends that additional documents relevant to the decisions being challenged remain in the ministers’ possession.Among the records sought is the Magistrates Commission’s three-phase proposal dealing with salary increases under the first two phases, followed by housing and vehicle allowances under the third.The association also wants a letter sent by the justice minister to the finance minister on 6 June 2023, together with documents tracing the first phase of the remuneration process from the proposal through to publication in the Government Gazette.According to the notice, these should include the finance minister’s concurrence and records of consultation with the Magistrates Commission.Fishing expeditionA central issue raised by the association concerns the approval of figures published in Government Notice 334 on 18 December 2025.“Although that Notice records that concurrence was obtained, the record contains no further concurrence beyond the letter dated 02 October 2023,” the association states.It is therefore seeking documentation showing the finance minister’s concurrence in the figures published in December 2025.The association further requests the Magistrates Commission’s letter of 7 November 2025 and an accompanying schedule submitted to the minister following negotiations.Government grade schedules used during negotiations held from 4 to 7 November 2025 are also sought. According to the notice, those schedules formed the basis of discussions concerning alignment.Justice minister Wise Immanuel said the commission is busy with a fishing expedition and that the ministry will respond once it is informed which documents are outstanding.“You throw your net randomly to see if it will catch anything. The person (commission) has no evidence to support his or her case. They are speculating. Hence the process they are going through now with the courts,” Immanuel said last week.The notice was prepared by Metcalfe Beukes Attorneys under High Court Rule 76(6) and (7). It constitutes the association’s request for further disclosure, rather than a court finding that the ministers withheld documents.The wider review application lists seven respondents, including the Magistrates Commission, the attorney-general, the president, the Office of the Judiciary and its executive director.The matter is scheduled for a status hearing before High Court Judge Shafimana Ueitele on 12 November 2026.

Magistrates demand further salary records from the justice and finance ministers

Comments

Namibian Sun 2026-10-26

Please login to leave a comment

Magistrates demand further salary records from the justice and finance ministers

Comments

Namibian Sun 2026-10-26

Please login to leave a comment

Subscription Required to Access Content ×

Subscription Required to Access Content