Gunfire erupts outside Booysens Magistrate's Court as a pair is fatally shot

''If this culture of lawlessness, of total disregard for human life, is allowed to become entrenched, we will find ourselves in complete anarchy where the man with the largest gun calls the shots."

This was the reaction of Adv. Glynnis Breytenbach MP, DA Spokesperson on Justice and Constitutional Development, following the shooting incident at the Booysens Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

At least five people were shot, and two were killed.

''This attack is yet another alarming incident in a growing pattern of violent crimes occurring in and around court precincts across South Africa, spaces that should be among the most secure in the country,'' Breytenbach added.

She called on the minister of justice and constitutional development to account to Parliament on what concrete measures her department is implementing to ensure the safety of court users, officials, and the public. 

In a media statement, the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development said it had learned with serious concern of the shooting, which occurred on Tuesday, 20 January 2026.

“The incident is still active, and law enforcement agencies are attending to the situation,” the ministry said.

At this stage, it has been reported that five people were shot, with two fatalities. Earlier reports indicated that a lawyer and several women were among those wounded.

Police and emergency services arrived on the scene, cordoning off the court precinct while they secured the area and treated the injured. The shooting's circumstances have not yet been made public.

Deputy Minister Andries Nel was expected to visit the crime scene

The ministry condemned the incident and said it would work with relevant security and law enforcement authorities to ensure that all necessary measures are implemented to safeguard court users and personnel.

Police have not yet released details on the suspect or the motive behind the shooting.

In September last year, Nel warned potential offenders that South Africa’s courts cannot be used asa venue for criminal activity.

He was giving a speech outside the Western Cape's Athlone Magistrate's Court after a deadly shooting there.

Last December, a man was gunned down while sitting in a car near Athlone Magistrate's Court. Minutes later, another was shot and killed not far from the court in Kewtown.

In April 2025, an accused person was fatally shot shortly after appearing at Wynberg Magistrate's Court. In May 2025, at the Melmoth Court in KwaZulu-Natal, an accused was shot dead.  

The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development, Xola Nqola said that that safety and security in and around court facilities must be treated as an absolute priority. “Safety in and at our courts is non-negotiable. No member of the public or any official should ever fear accessing justice in our country.”