High Court judge Marelize du Plessis has turned down requests by several accused in the Fishrot corruption case to delay the trial.

The accused had asked the court to postpone the case for various reasons, including ongoing legal challenges in other courts and difficulties in securing legal representation. 

Some accused had argued that the trial should not move forward while a related review application is still pending, while others said their right to choose their own lawyers would be undermined if the case continued. 

The case has now been postponed to 9 to 20 March 2026, when the trial is set to continue in the Windhoek High Court. 

Former Justice Minister Sacky Shanghala, who is among the accused, said he will appeal the ruling and plans to file the necessary documents before Friday.