A chilling murder outside the Lenasia Magistrate’s Court in Johannesburg has left the community in shock, with a key witness to an Eldorado Park murder case gunned down just hours before he was set to testify. The tragic incident unfolded on Tuesday morning, when the man, along with another witness, was standing outside the court premises. As they waited, two armed assailants approached them and opened fire without saying a word, killing the witness instantly.
Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo, spokesperson for the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Gauteng, confirmed the death, revealing that the victim was due to testify in the ongoing murder trial related to a 2021 incident in Eldorado Park. The murder has sent shockwaves through the local community, with the court premises temporarily closed as investigators began their work.
According to Masondo, the two witnesses were targeted while standing outside the court. “The assailants did not utter a word before opening fire,” he told Newzroom Afrika, describing the senselessness of the act. The SAPS has now launched a manhunt for the two suspects involved in the shooting, and a formal case of murder has been opened.
This latest incident follows a disturbing pattern of attacks on individuals connected to court cases. In a similar occurrence last year, three people were shot execution-style just after leaving a court in Mtwalume on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast. Police believe the victims, who were traveling in a vehicle, had just left the local court when they were ambushed by armed men in two separate vehicles. The suspects opened fire on the vehicle, killing all three passengers instantly before fleeing the scene. It was later reported that the deceased were also robbed of firearms before their deaths.
The recurrence of such violence outside court premises highlights the dangerous reality for witnesses and those involved in high-profile criminal cases. Both of these killings serve as stark reminders of the risks faced by individuals caught in the crossfire of criminal activity, as well as the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in securing the safety of people attending court proceedings.
Authorities are urging anyone with information on the latest murder outside the Lenasia court to come forward as the investigation progresses. Meanwhile, the police’s focus is on apprehending the suspects behind the shooting and preventing further acts of violence against witnesses, a concern that continues to grow as attacks on court-related individuals seem to be increasing.
