Televised Court Proceedings Raise Safety Risks For SA Prosecutors – Justice Minister

South Africa’s Justice Minister,

, has highlighted a worrying consequence of broadcasting court proceedings: the safety of State prosecutors is increasingly at risk.

Speaking in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Kubayi said systems are being developed to identify high-risk cases before prosecutors themselves report feeling threatened.

“The recent assassinations of prosecutors are a threat to the criminal justice system,” Kubayi warned, referencing the killings of two Eastern Cape prosecutors, Elona Sombulula and Tracy Brown, who were murdered just three months apart.

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Kubayi noted that the assassinations are part of a troubling trend, with five prosecutors killed over the past five years. Initially, their deaths were not linked to their professional duties. However, investigations later revealed that Tracy Brown’s murder was orchestrated from prison.

 

“One of the unintended results is that prosecutors’ faces and identities are shown, while the faces of accused persons are hidden or protected from public view,” Kubayi said, stressing the risks posed by televised court coverage.

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To combat these threats, Kubayi said the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is improving mechanisms to identify high-risk cases early. Measures include close protection, ongoing surveillance, and comprehensive case assessments for prosecutors at risk.

“In many cases, it has been picked up early and prosecutors have been protected and provided with close protection and also surveillance and assessment of the cases they are dealing with,” she explained.

The NPA is also exploring collaborations with international security experts to further bolster the protection of its legal staff.

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