Shanghala petitions Supreme Court to determine issue of judge removal

Staff Reporter

THE former Minister of Justice, Sackeus Shanghala, and his co-accused, James Hatuikulipi, have filed a petition with the Supreme Court to determine the issue of the removal of Judge Marelize du Plessis.

Acting Judge du Plessis in March 2026 dismissed an application to recuse herself from the fisheries and corruption trial. The accused in the matter claimed that the judge would not preside over the trial in an impartial manner after she made a predetermination that the many interlocutory applications brought forward were a deliberate delay tactic orchestrated by the accused.