Athlone: Justice and Constitutional Development Deputy Minister Andries Nel has sent a strong warning to would-be wrongdoers that South Africa's courts cannot be turned into places for criminal activities. The Deputy Minister was speaking outside the Athlone Magistrates Court in the Western Cape following a fatal shooting incident at the court on Friday.
According to South African Government News Agency, the incident marks the latest in a growing trend of violence at judicial facilities, with similar occurrences reported this year at the Mitchells Plain and Wynberg Magistrates Courts in the province, as well as another at Melmoth Court in KwaZulu-Natal. Deputy Minister Nel emphasized the importance of ensuring that courts remain safe spaces where individuals can exercise their constitutional rights without fear.
He stated, "We are at work. There are things that we can and are doing immediately. We don't have to wait to work smarter to ensure that the police are here in greater numbers. We don't have to wait to make use of technology to make use of remand hearings through video to obviate the need for prisoners to be transported from prison to court." The Deputy Minister also committed to coordinating a meeting with the Minister of Police to strengthen cooperation among justice, the judiciary, the police, and other departments like Public Works.
Western Cape Judge President, Nolwazi Mabindla-Boqwana, echoed the Deputy Minister's sentiments by calling for strengthened collaboration to combat the increasing violence. "It is too frequent, and it was important for us to come here with the Deputy Minister to show the community that we care, and we are doing something about the safety of the courts," she said. Mabindla-Boqwana stressed that attacks on the court precincts are attacks on democracy and the administration of justice, urging an integrated plan to counteract this trend.
Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development Chairperson, Xola Nqola, expressed grave concern over the incidents, particularly in the Western Cape. Nqola highlighted the need for authorities to reassess the security measures currently in place to protect court precincts, ensuring the safety of officials, presiding officers, and the public. The committee extended condolences to the family and friends of the deceased and called on the public to support authorities in making communities safe by speaking out against criminal activities.