Another Nelson Mandela Bay prosecutor targeted in brazen shooting
High-ranking police and government officials have voiced their distress after shots were fired at a prosecutor and his family in Nelson Mandela Bay in the early hours of Monday morning.
While the prosecutor and his family escaped the harrowing event unscathed, the incident bore an alarming similarity to the shooting that claimed the life of Gqeberha prosecutor Tracy Brown last month.
According to a police report, the prosecutor and his family arrived at their home in Tiryville, Kariega, at about 1.15am on Monday. While they were in the prosecutor's car outside the gate of their property, they were approached by four people.
One of them pulled out a firearm and fired multiple shots at the car, and the group fled on foot.
The police said the motive for the attack was yet to be determined and formed part of 'a critical line of investigation'.
Detectives at the Kamesh police station are investigating a case of attempted murder.
The identities of the prosecutor and his family are being withheld for their safety.
On July 31, Regional Court prosecutor Tracy Brown was shot in the driveway of her home in Young Park, Gqeberha. She was in her car when four masked men approached, shot several rounds into her car, and fled in a VW Polo.
Brown was rushed to hospital, where she died from her wounds.
Her death, which was widely regarded as a targeted murder, rocked the Nelson Mandela Bay legal fraternity and put the safety of court officials under the spotlight.
In April, another Eastern Cape prosecutor, Elona Sombulula, was shot and killed in Ngcobo.
Police response
'The brazen attack on an officer of the court and his family is an attack on the very foundation of our justice system. We will not tolerate such acts of intimidation and violence. We are confident that we will apprehend those responsible,' said the acting Eastern Cape police commissioner, Major General Thandiswa Kupiso, after Monday's incident.
A spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority, Luxolo Tyali, said they would not comment on the matter at this stage due to the sensitive nature of the incident.
The Eastern Cape MEC for community safety, Xolile Nqatha, said, 'This is a matter of great concern which cannot be taken lightly. It cannot be allowed that criminals target our prosecutors so openly and repeatedly. Serious action must be taken.'
At Brown's memorial service in Gqeberha two weeks ago, Nqatha said the investigation into her murder was bearing fruit, and arrests were imminent.
No arrests have been made, but on Tuesday, Nqatha said suspects would be apprehended soon.
The police have urged anyone with information about Monday's attempted murder to contact the investigating officer, Detective Warrant Officer Heinrich Swanepoel, on 071 475 2294. Alternatively, they can call Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or contact their nearest police station. DM
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Maverick
8 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
Another Nelson Mandela Bay prosecutor targeted in brazen shooting
Shots were fired at a prosecutor and his family outside their home in Tiryville, Kariega, in a brazen attack reminiscent of the killing of Tracy Brown last month. High-ranking police and government officials have voiced their distress after shots were fired at a prosecutor and his family in Nelson Mandela Bay in the early hours of Monday morning. While the prosecutor and his family escaped the harrowing event unscathed, the incident bore an alarming similarity to the shooting that claimed the life of Gqeberha prosecutor Tracy Brown last month. According to a police report, the prosecutor and his family arrived at their home in Tiryville, Kariega, at about 1.15am on Monday. While they were in the prosecutor's car outside the gate of their property, they were approached by four people. One of them pulled out a firearm and fired multiple shots at the car, and the group fled on foot. The police said the motive for the attack was yet to be determined and formed part of 'a critical line of investigation'. Detectives at the Kamesh police station are investigating a case of attempted murder. The identities of the prosecutor and his family are being withheld for their safety. On July 31, Regional Court prosecutor Tracy Brown was shot in the driveway of her home in Young Park, Gqeberha. She was in her car when four masked men approached, shot several rounds into her car, and fled in a VW Polo. Brown was rushed to hospital, where she died from her wounds. Her death, which was widely regarded as a targeted murder, rocked the Nelson Mandela Bay legal fraternity and put the safety of court officials under the spotlight. In April, another Eastern Cape prosecutor, Elona Sombulula, was shot and killed in Ngcobo. Police response 'The brazen attack on an officer of the court and his family is an attack on the very foundation of our justice system. We will not tolerate such acts of intimidation and violence. We are confident that we will apprehend those responsible,' said the acting Eastern Cape police commissioner, Major General Thandiswa Kupiso, after Monday's incident. A spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority, Luxolo Tyali, said they would not comment on the matter at this stage due to the sensitive nature of the incident. The Eastern Cape MEC for community safety, Xolile Nqatha, said, 'This is a matter of great concern which cannot be taken lightly. It cannot be allowed that criminals target our prosecutors so openly and repeatedly. Serious action must be taken.' At Brown's memorial service in Gqeberha two weeks ago, Nqatha said the investigation into her murder was bearing fruit, and arrests were imminent. No arrests have been made, but on Tuesday, Nqatha said suspects would be apprehended soon. The police have urged anyone with information about Monday's attempted murder to contact the investigating officer, Detective Warrant Officer Heinrich Swanepoel, on 071 475 2294. Alternatively, they can call Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or contact their nearest police station. DM
TimesLIVE
9 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Six rhino horn syndicate suspects granted bail
Five men and a woman accused of being involved in the trafficking of 964 rhino horns valued at R250m were granted bail by the Pretoria magistrate's court on Tuesday. John Frederick Hume, 83, founder and owner of the Platinum Rhino Conservation Enterprise, was granted R100,000 bail. The director of a nonprofit organisation, Elizabeth Catharina Van Niekerk, 58, and transport maintenance manager Clive John Mervan Melville, 63, were granted R10,000 bail each while attorney Izak Hermanus du Toit, 50, insurance broker Mattheus Hendrikus Wessels Poggenpoel, 37, and game reserve manager Johannes Abraham Hennop, 52, were each granted R20,000 bail. 'They are collectively facing a total of 55 charges of multiple counts of racketeering, fraud, contravention of the National Environmental Management Act, contravention of the Riotous Assemblies Act, theft and money laundering,' the National Prosecuting Authority and the Hawks said in a joint statement. It is alleged that between 2017 and 2024, the accused operated an international rhino horn trafficking syndicate and defrauded the department of forestry, fisheries and the environment (DFFE). 'They allegedly obtained permits to trade rhino horn locally, while intending to channel the horns into illegal international markets in Southeast Asia.' The fraudulent scheme was estimated to involve 964 rhino horns valued at R250m. After intensive investigations by the Hawks, the six handed themselves over at the Pretoria Central police station on Tuesday, where they were formally arrested. 'During bail proceedings, they all asked to be released on bail because they were not flight risks and had co-operated with the police.' In his affidavit, Melville disclosed that he had a 2019 conviction for fraud and for being in possession of and transporting rhino horns. He was sentenced to pay a fine. Poggenpoel disclosed that he had a 2009 conviction for possession of a rhino horn and had paid an admission of guilt fine of R2,500. 'Poggenpoel also disclosed that he will be appearing on September 17 at Winburg magistrate's court because during the visit to his residence, the investigation team found ammunition that was not locked away in a safe and supposedly scheduled medicine without a permit.' The state did not oppose bail. The court granted bail and ordered the accused to surrender their passports and not apply for new travel documents while the case was pending. The court ordered the accused to report to their nearest police station once a week, and instructed that they may not interfere with investigations, tamper with evidence or influence witnesses. TimesLIVE
IOL News
14 hours ago
- IOL News
NPA to reinstate case against police officers acquitted in Marikana Massacre
The National Prosecuting Authority is set to reinstate charges against the police officers who were acquitted for the Marikana Massacre. Image: Leon Sadiki / Independent Newspapers Archives The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) says the case against police officers who were acquitted in relation to the Marikana Massacre will be reinstated. The NPA said the docket has been compiled for the process to resume. This follows demands for accountability. The Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (Seri) said the NPA has failed to prosecute anyone for the deaths of mineworkers despite its assurance to hold those involved to account. August 16, 2025, marked 13 years since the tragic Marikana Massacre, when police shot protesting mineworkers, killing 34 in 2012. The mineworkers from Lonmin Mine went on a strike for six weeks, challenging their working conditions and demanding a wage increase. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Seri said that without bringing prosecutions for the massacre, the state continues to fail the families of the deceased and the survivors. In 2015, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry recommended a criminal investigation into the police over the deaths of the miners. The report concluded that police had a defective plan to end the strike and were wrong to proceed with it. Seri said that despite repeated assurances of its commitment to dealing with the criminal proceedings relating to the deaths at Marikana, the NPA has failed to prosecute anyone for the deaths of mineworkers that arose from the events of August 16, 2012. However, the NPA disagreed with the statement, saying the police officers who were prosecuted were acquitted by the High Court. Seri said families were told that the NPA would consider an appeal, but they have heard nothing since. The organisation stated that this inaction reflects a lack of commitment to ensuring that families obtain justice for their loved ones' deaths, adding that several family members have died before seeing any meaningful accountability. NPA spokesperson in the North West, Sivenathi Gunya, said the case would resume, adding that the authority looked into all the dockets that were brought from head office to the North West division for a decision, following the acquittals of some police officials. "The decision was made to conduct a formal inquest before proceeding to court, as the evidence in the dockets was based on similar facts. The team, headed by the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions and two senior State advocates, made a decision to go for a formal inquest. The decision was communicated to the IPID for them to compile an inquest docket for the process to resume," he said. Only nine officers have been prosecuted to date. In 2021, four officers, including former North West deputy police commissioner Major-General William Mpembe, were acquitted in the matter related to the death of Modisatsile van Wyk Sagalala, one of the mineworkers shot on August 16. Sagalala died while handcuffed at the back of a police truck. The High Court also acquitted six officers for their role, which resulted in the deaths of Semi Jokanisi, Thembelakhe Mati, and Pumzile Sekonyile. "The two trials that concluded in 2021 and 2024 sat sporadically and were slow-moving. They have been the closest that the families have come to learning the true details about the deaths of their loved ones and obtaining some form of closure. Both failed prosecutions have shown the corrosive impact that the passage of time has had on the strength of the State's cases, which means that further delays in prosecutions are to deny the families justice and an opportunity to see those implicated being held to account," said Seri executive director Nomzamo Zondo. She added that the NPA issue in 2023, and detailed various personnel and resource constraints, as reasons for their failure to prosecute the deaths. Zondo noted that two more years have passed, yet families and survivors have still not seen any progress regarding prosecutions. Gunya said the issue has been resolved, and a team of senior State advocates led by the deputy director has been established to look into the docket. Seri added that aside from justice for the families, prosecutions for the massacre are consistent with South Africa's international obligations concerning victims of gross human rights violations, which the Marikana Massacre is emblematic of. 'The failure to hold accountable those responsible for these deaths is a betrayal of the promise of justice. Not only does it dishonour the families of the deceased, but erodes trust in our justice system." Marikana has arguably been the most politicised incident of police brutality since 1994. It has left permanent scars on our democracy, said Zondo, adding that it is crucial that justice is administered equally and that the families and survivors of the massacre are given the opportunity to obtain closure.
