Zuko Komisa

On Thursday, there was an incident at the Mamelodi Magistrates Court located in Gauteng’s Pretoria where the accused broke a bottle and attempted to stab both the prosecutor and the stenographer immediately after he was convicted.
Thembi Simelane, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, condemned with utmost severity the assault that transpired yesterday at the Mamelodi Magistrates’ Court on a prosecutor and stenographer.
According to the department, an inquiry into the occurrence is underway. The department claims that shortly after their verdict was announced, a suspect convicted of common robbery and property damage attacked the two with a shattered bottle.
“We will not tolerate such acts of violence in our courts. The suspect will be prosecuted for committing this crime. It is essential that our courts remain free to fulfil their constitutionally mandated role in administering justice without fear of harm. Any assault on court officials undermines the authority of the state and will not be tolerated,”
“As the police are currently investigating the matter, the department is unable to disclose further details at this time. However, senior management from the department has visited the Mamelodi Court and all staff affected by the incident will receive trauma counselling support.
“In response to this incident, the Minister has directed the department to urgently conduct a comprehensive security and risk assessment, identify any potential lapses and implement immediate measures to address any gaps,”
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