A man lost his life in a fatal shooting outside the Lenasia Magistrates’ Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday 21 January in the morning. He was due to provide testimony in a legal case.
The victim and another individual, both witnesses in a murder trial linked to an incident in Eldorado Park, were targeted near the court building. The Gauteng branch of the South African Police Service (SAPS), represented by Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo, confirmed the killing.
The man had been expected to testify regarding a murder case from 2021. Following the tragic incident, the court temporarily suspended operations.
According to reports, two armed individuals approached the witnesses outside the court and began firing without any warning or communication.
Authorities have since initiated a search for the perpetrators and opened a case of murder.
“We can confirm that the person that was shot and killed this morning is a witness in a case of murder, of Eldorado Park, that took place in 2021,” said Masondo.
The court premises have been temporarily closed after the horrific murder of the witness.
Masondo said the armed assailants did not utter a word before opening fire on the two witnesses.
“The case was set for trial today. So, information that we got is that two witnesses in this case were standing outside the court when they were accosted by two armed suspects, armed men who started shooting at them without saying a word.
“For now, we have launched a manhunt for the two suspects, and we have opened a case of murder,” he said.