How criminals are using court places as battlefields to eliminate rivals

Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Andries Nel, has voiced grave concerns about escalating violence targeting the nation’s courts.

This follows a tragic incident outside the Booysen’s Magistrate’s Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday, where two individuals were fatally shot and three others wounded, casting a dark shadow over public confidence in judicial safety.

Nel explained that these attacks are part of a worrying trend, with criminals increasingly choosing court settings as venues for retribution or to eliminate rivals.

"They know that the target will be at our courts on a certain day and at a certain time, and they can plan around that," he said during an interview with the SABC.

This new strategy from criminal elements necessitates an urgent review of security protocols both within court buildings and in the surrounding areas.

In response, the deputy minister announced robust measures are being intensified across the country’s courts. "We are collaborating with law enforcement to ensure that safety measures are tightened," he assured, indicating a collective responsibility to ensure courts remain sanctuaries of justice rather than scenes of violence.

Importantly, he highlighted that recent incidents have not only occurred within court premises but also in nearby parking lots and streets.

"Now we are engaging with police to up visible policing," Nel noted, mentioning potential enhancements like the deployment of crime wardens and advancements in technology such as increased CCTV coverage.

“The key point here is that we have a collective duty as government and as society to ensure that our courts of law are places of safety where both those who work there as well as members of the public can come with confidence to see justice being served.”

Reassuring the public, Nel disclosed that strict security measures are already in place at court locations.

"All measures have been taken to secure the court building itself and its activity inside,” he stated.

''Currently, there are 14 security officials on duty at any given time, supplemented by a comprehensive CCTV system monitored by technicians, along with a functional metal detector and X-ray machine at the entrance.''

Although this recent violence has raised alarms, Nel noted a positive statistic: there has never been an incident of shooting within the court itself. However, the increased threats necessitate continued vigilance and proactive enhancement of security protocols to ensure the integrity of South Africa's judicial system.

There have been similar deadly attacks in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal in recent months