Doj Concerned About Witness Safety In Sa After Court Shooting

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has expressed concern following the killing of a witness at the Lenasia Magistrates Court in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

A witness scheduled to testify in a 2021 murder case was shot and killed in the court precinct, prompting a police manhunt for the suspect. The incident has reignited alarm over witness safety in South Africa.

A similar attack occurred in November 2023, when a key witness in a police torture trial was killed outside the Randburg Magistrates Court.

Department spokesperson Terrence Manase condemned the killings and emphasized the need for improved safety measures.

"This is concerning, and as the department-and maybe as government in general-we condemn these acts. The taking of lives cannot be condoned in any way, so the safety of court users is of importance to us, and we are really concerned about the incidents," says Manase.