MyAFroTube is your place to share videos, audio, photos, and stories. Join now and get your own profile page, blog and unlimited media uploads!...
South Africa magistrates living in constant fear
11 years ago | 8553 Views
Pretoria - Last week several magistrates spoke out about how they live in constant fear and that it has become common occurrence for them to be threatened at gunpoint, stabbed, robbed and intimidated with bomb and death threats by criminals linked to cases they were hearing.
According to the Sunday Times, magistrates say they live in fear for themselves and their families and have had to improve security at their homes to such an extent that they – like the those they put behind bars – are living in fortresses.
Despite this, some said their desperate pleas had fallen on deaf ears and there was little or no response by the justice department, which is supposed to help them when they are threatened.
Magistrates appear to be especially at risk of gangs, because those they are trying have henchmen outside prison to do their “work”.
In April a magistrate who testified in a gang trial fought off a burglar in her house. She was adamant that the attack was related to the trial, after she had received death threats and other witnesses were “taken out”. In another incident a Western Cape magistrate was stabbed by an intruder. In a third case, a Cape magistrate said her life and that of her daughter’s was put in danger while she was hearing a children’s court matter.
“I was woken up when my daughter entered my room with a gun to her head, accompanied by two armed robbers. I was shot at while attempting to flee for help.”
The Sunday Times reported that correspondence from magistrates to the department appears to often go unanswered. Nazeem Joemath, president of the Judicial Officers’ Association of South Africa, said: “The security of magistrates should be a priority, like all judicial officers. It’s unfortunate that this is not happening.” - News24
According to the Sunday Times, magistrates say they live in fear for themselves and their families and have had to improve security at their homes to such an extent that they – like the those they put behind bars – are living in fortresses.
Despite this, some said their desperate pleas had fallen on deaf ears and there was little or no response by the justice department, which is supposed to help them when they are threatened.
Magistrates appear to be especially at risk of gangs, because those they are trying have henchmen outside prison to do their “work”.
In April a magistrate who testified in a gang trial fought off a burglar in her house. She was adamant that the attack was related to the trial, after she had received death threats and other witnesses were “taken out”. In another incident a Western Cape magistrate was stabbed by an intruder. In a third case, a Cape magistrate said her life and that of her daughter’s was put in danger while she was hearing a children’s court matter.
“I was woken up when my daughter entered my room with a gun to her head, accompanied by two armed robbers. I was shot at while attempting to flee for help.”
The Sunday Times reported that correspondence from magistrates to the department appears to often go unanswered. Nazeem Joemath, president of the Judicial Officers’ Association of South Africa, said: “The security of magistrates should be a priority, like all judicial officers. It’s unfortunate that this is not happening.” - News24
0
Tags: South Africa,magistrates
Comments
What iBlog
-
Time to kiss Zimbabwe goodbye forever.
Posted: 2014 November 03 | 59267 Views -
Zim Cricket team delights Mugabe
Posted: 2013 September 15 | 7583 Views -
Baba Jukwa got Jonathan Moyo in the new cabinet
Posted: 2013 September 13 | 9752 Views -
South Africa magistrates living in constant fear
Posted: 2013 August 25 | 8553 Views -
Both Tsvangirai and Mugabe won the election with a landslide?
Posted: 2013 August 17 | 23785 Views -
Did Prophet TB Joshua really tell Tsvangirai that he will never rule Zimbabwe?
Posted: 2013 August 02 | 134724 Views -
Are Zimbabweans expected to believe Zanu has never rigged an election?
Posted: 2013 July 30 | 27620 Views -
Zim govt looking at ways of "crippling" 1st TV
Posted: 2013 July 19 | 16232 Views -
Barack Obama heading to Africa, Kenya not on his itinerary
Posted: 2013 June 26 | 8068 Views -
Father of Five burns 12-yr-old girl with a hot iron
Posted: 2013 June 19 | 10686 Views -
Soldiers beat up civilians - on whose order?
Posted: 2013 June 16 | 12756 Views -
They went to SADC - Came back with two stories!
Posted: 2013 June 15 | 16895 Views -
The medicinal trees of the grasslands
Posted: 2013 June 15 | 21056 Views -
Artist creates a 'Get Well Soon' Madiba sand sculpture
Posted: 2013 June 10 | 9248 Views -
Taliban fighters behead two boys scrounging for leftover food
Posted: 2013 June 10 | 7143 Views -
Mandela's ex-wife 'Winnie' pays him a hospital visit
Posted: 2013 June 10 | 9704 Views -
Nigerian military kills "global terrorist"
Posted: 2013 June 07 | 7586 Views -
Egypt: Foreign Ministry concern over sentencing of foreign NGO members
Posted: 2013 June 06 | 6394 Views
Categories
Friends