After fatal shooting at Wynberg court, justice dept orders security beefed up
Department Director-General Advocate Doc Mashabane conducted a site visit to the Wynberg Magistrates Court on Thursday, to review security measures at the court.
Outside the Wynberg Magistrates Court in Cape Town. Picture: Mary-Anne Gontsana/GroundUp
CAPE TOWN - The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that courts are places for the dispensation of justice and not places where crime is committed.
Department Director-General Advocate Doc Mashabane conducted a site visit to the Wynberg Magistrates Court on Thursday to review security measures at the court.
It follows the fatal shooting which occurred in the corridors of the court on Tuesday morning.
Mashabane has since ordered that security be beefed up.
Department spokesperson Kgalalelo Masibi said that a range of stakeholders were present at the court.
"The Director-General engaged with stakeholders from the Office of the Chief Justice, the National Prosecuting Authority, Legal Aid South Africa, the South African Police Service, and senior officials of the Department of Justice, focusing on evaluating current security measures and identifying appropriate corrective actions where necessary."
She added that immediate action would be taken to ensure safety at courthouses.
"As part of immediate interventions, the director-general directed that the security scanner be installed, the tightening of access control to prosecutors' and magistrates' offices take place and the enhanced vetting of court officials."