THE Ministry of Justice could introduce remote testimony after the recent murder at Wynberg Magistrates Court.
This comes after Dingalomoyo Chintso, 49, was shot and killed inside the court building on Tuesday.
The security breach threw a harsh spotlight on safety and security at court buildings, with the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development confirming the metal detector at the court was not functioning and had not been reported.
Chintso was a murder accused set to appear at the Wynberg Magistrate's Court.
Minister of Justice Mmamoloko Kubayi said the security breach and the issue of metal detectors were preliminary factors that are being investigated.
She says: “Such things should not happen in a courtroom or building.
“What we are trying to understand is the issue of the metal detector because I am (told) that the metal detector did not work but no report was registered. We can go and discipline the security officer but we have got to find a way to prevent such instances from happening again.
Kubayi confirmed there would be engagements regarding off-site testimony.
The minister says: “At Wynberg, there is a problem despite the high security. It’s not regular that you find a court being notorious like that in terms of having witnesses being killed.
“We have a high level of gang-related matters being brought into that court.
“We will have a conversation with the judiciary to introduce off-site testimony for the witnesses so that they do not come to the court.
“When they come to court, you don’t fear only that the witness will be killed, you fear for the magistrate. You fear for anyone who is in the courtroom when the trigger is pulled because the bullet can go to anyone.
“I am paying particular attention to that court and areas where we have high levels of gang-related matters.”
Alison Tilley from Judges Matter, a legal NGO, said the incident also brought the safety and security of judicial officers to the fore again following a study conducted by the Democratic Governance and Rights Unit (DGRU) of the University of Cape Town (UCT).
She adds: “We are very concerned about the safety of everybody in the court building, including judicial officers, staff, and members of the public. We know this has been a concern from magistrates arising from previous research into conditions at courts.
“In this instance, it was as a result of the metal detectors not working, resulting in a gun being smuggled into the building.”
