A brazen and deeply troubling incident unfolded earlier today at the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court, where a state witness was shot and killed inside the court building. The act has sparked widespread concern over security at South Africa’s judicial institutions.

The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development, Xola Nqola, expressed his outrage at the attack, describing it as a horrifying sign of lawlessness and a direct challenge to the authority of the state.

“Criminals have become so brazen that they no longer care who they shoot or where they do it,” Nqola said. “It is difficult to comprehend how anyone could turn a court of law – a place meant to uphold justice – into a murder scene. This is a blatant and fearless act that must be condemned in the strongest terms.”

The incident reportedly occurred in the court lobby, where the attackers – armed and undetected – managed to enter the premises and open fire. Nqola questioned how it was possible for firearms to be brought into the building without detection.

“What is particularly alarming is that these ruthless individuals managed to bypass court security while armed. The question we must all be asking is: how were they able to enter the building with weapons?” he said.

Nqola also referenced a recent oversight visit by the committee to various courts in KwaZulu-Natal, where serious shortcomings in security infrastructure were noted.

“During our visit last month, we found that most of the metal detectors at the courts were not working. We raised this concern with both the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, specifically highlighting the issue of safety for everyone inside court buildings.”

In light of today’s incident, Nqola stressed the urgent need to re-evaluate and improve security at all judicial facilities across the country.

“We must prioritise the safety of judges, magistrates, legal professionals, and members of the public. People come to court assuming they are safe, and it is our duty to ensure that this is truly the case,” he said.

As investigations into the killing continue, questions remain over whether this tragedy could have been prevented – and what steps will now be taken to prevent similar attacks in future.