Melmoth: Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has called for an immediate strengthening of security in all courts following a second shooting incident at a court over the past two months. The latest incident occurred at the Melmoth Court in KwaZulu-Natal, resulting in the fatal shooting of an accused.

According to South African Government News Agency, preliminary reports indicate that an accused person in custody allegedly gained access to a court orderly’s firearm. In a swift and decisive response, a second court orderly acted with commendable presence of mind and discharged his service weapon, fatally wounding the accused before any further harm could occur. The individual was declared deceased at the scene.

While the full details of the incident, including the identity of the deceased and the exact sequence of events, are still under investigation, the Ministry is encouraged by the professionalism displayed by court officials in a high-pressure situation. Their actions undoubtedly prevented a potentially greater tragedy, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development said.

Police and internal department investigations are underway. Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has called for an urgent briefing and has emphasised the need for an immediate strengthening of security protocols in all court precincts. The department is working closely with law enforcement to ensure enhanced safety measures are urgently implemented to safeguard all court users.

Despite the distressing incident, court operations at Melmoth were not disrupted, and the regional court continued to serve the public as scheduled. This reflects the resilience and commitment of the justice system and its officials to uphold the rule of law, the department said.