The Department of Justice says immediate measures will be undertaken to improve security at courts in the province, amid a rise in court shootings.

The Deputy Minister of Justice, Andries Nel, and Judge President of the Western Cape, Nolwazi Mabindla-Boqwana, briefed the media outside the Athlone Magistrate’s Court on Monday morning after a fatal gang-related shooting at the court on Friday.

It follows a similar shooting outside the Mitchells Plain court in August, and a brazen shooting inside the Wynberg court in April.

At the time, there were serious questions about whether the metal detectors were functioning after the shooter apparently managed to smuggle in a weapon.

While arrests have been made for the Mitchells Plain and Wynberg court shootings, police are still on the hunt for the guilty parties of last week’s Athlone shooting.

Parliament’s Justice Committee has expressed grave concern at the rise in these types of shootings.

Judge President Mabindla-Boqwana says they are working on a range of measures to prevent further incidents of this nature.

She says this includes ensuring that there is more visible security and police presence outside the court, that the metal detectors at all courthouses are working properly, that everyone is searched before entering the court precincts, and that staff are properly trained to do searches.

Mabindla-Boqwana says these shootings are delaying justice, and it cannot be allowed to become a common occurrence.

The Judge President says it has a huge knock-on effect, with staff also severely traumatised.

Deputy Minister Nel says they are presenting a united front to send a strong message to staff, the public, but also to the gangsters and the criminals that they are united to ensure that courts are a place of safety where people can come to seek justice.

DEPUTY MINISTER NEL AND JUDGE PRESIDENT MABINDLA-BOQWANA GO ON WALKABOUT TO ASSESS SECURITY AT ATHLONE MAGISTRATES COURT

Deputy Minister Andries Nel and Western Cape Judge President Nolwazi Mabindla-Boqwana were guided by Court Manager Mr Phumzile Kewana on a walkabout of the… pic.twitter.com/1h30GH388R

— The DoJ & CD (@DOJCD_ZA) September 8, 2025