DURBAN – KwaZulu-Natal police have confirmed one of their own members is responsible for Monday’s deadly shooting at the Durban Magistrates Court which has claimed the lives of two people.
At around 11h30 in the morning, the police officer and his wife were appearing in the courtroom on the eighth floor where they were in the process of getting a divorce.
Police say the officer from the KwaMashu station opened fire on his wife and brother-in-law, killing them instantly.
It’s understood he then turned the gun on himself but is now in a critical condition in hospital.
KZN police spokesperson Thembeka Mbele says the court proceedings had adjourned briefly just before the suspect opened fire.
Minister Masutha condemns the incident which resulted in two deaths and two injuries in the strongest possible terms.
“I have instructed the Department of Justice to institute an official investigation on the incident,” said Minister Masutha.
He added: “Information currently at our disposal suggests that this incident is complicated by the fact that the alleged suspect is a member of the South African Police Service whom the court security officials neither knew was an affected party in a case that was being heard nor had any reasonable grounds to suspect that he would be a perpetrator.”
Minister Masutha conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased.
The Minister will confer with the Minister of Police to ensure a collective effort in improving security at courts and to take steps to prevent recurrence of similar incidents in future. “I wish to assure members of the public and court officials that no effort will be spared in ensuring that courts are safe spaces for all who use them”, said Masutha.
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