An accused man was shot dead in Melmoth Magistrate’s Court in KZN yesterday morning after he grabbed a court orderly’s firearm.

The Witness reports that, according to the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development, the man, who was in custody, managed to get hold of the firearm during court proceedings.

A second orderly reacted quickly and shot the accused before anyone else could be harmed. He died at the scene.

“While the full details — including the identity of the deceased and exact sequence of events — are still being investigated, the ministry commends the professionalism of court officials in a high-pressure situation.

“Their actions undoubtedly prevented a potentially more severe tragedy,” the department said.

Police are investigating, and a full report is expected soon.

Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has asked for an urgent briefing and ordered a review of security measures at all courts.

“The department is working closely with law enforcement to strengthen safety measures for all court users.

“Despite the incident, operations at the Melmoth court continued as normal,” the department added.

Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel.

Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.