The chair of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development, Xola Nqola, has denounced the brazen attack at the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court.

A 50-year-old taxi owner, Dingalomoya Cintso, from Vrygrond was gunned down. He was appearing on charges of murder and attempted murder in a case linked to extortion in Muizenberg. It’s believed that this was a hit.

Nqola says criminals have become so brazen that they don’t care who or where they shoot, adding that he struggles to comprehend how these criminals took a court and turned it into a murder scene.

The chair has raised serious questions about security at the court, stating that what is more worrying is the fact that the attackers walked into a court building whilst armed. How did they go undetected? However, he went on to reveal that during oversight visits last month to various courts in KwaZulu-Natal, the committee found most of the metal detectors were not functioning. A concern, he says, was raised with the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development as well as the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure.

Nqola says they need to revisit the security at all courts for the safety of the judges, magistrates, advocates, lawyers, and the public daily.