Question NW2389 to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
17 July 2023 - NW2389
Breytenbach, Adv G to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
Given the recent shooting of a witness outside the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court after leaving the specified court en route to the taxi terminal, which was followed by the arrest of four suspects between the ages of 24 and 33 who were expected to make their court appearance in the same court on Monday, 5 June 2023, on a charge of murder (details furnished), what are the reasons that (a) it was not foreseen that (i) the witness would automatically become a target and (ii) the witness’ life would be in immediate danger and (b) the witness was not pre-emptively placed in the witness protection programme and/or provided with other protection?
Reply:
On 25 May 2023, a woman was shot in proximity of Wynberg Magistrate’s Court. At the time of her death, she was not a witness but an accused person who appeared in a murder matter. Prior to her death, she appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court, with two (2) other accused persons on a charge of murder.
On the day of her death, she appeared in court, whereafter her bail was extended until her next court appearance. Her death was unforeseen since she had appeared as an accused on several occasions prior to her death without any violence or threat of violence being inflicted. There was also no forewarning that an attack of this nature would be directed at the female accused person after her appearance in court.
Three (3) accused persons have since been arrested for her murder, and the matter as well as the circumstances surrounding her death are still under investigation. The investigation is at sensitive stage and revealing more information could cause potential harm to the witnesses or jeopardise the investigation.