The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has strengthened security measures after a police inspector was stabbed to death while escorting a prisoner to a courtroom earlier this week.
Department spokesperson Lazarus Mothupi said on Thursday that four additional guards had been deployed to the Odi Magistrate’s Court in Ga-Rankuwa, Pretoria.
”We have increased the number of guards from two per shift to a total of six per shift,” said Mothupi.
The reason was to keep a ”visible presence” in the court.
Inspector Meshack Mogagade (46) was stabbed on Monday while leading a 25-year-old murder suspect from the holding cells of the court to the courtroom.
The Justice Crime Prevention and Security cluster was planning a meeting to address the matter. These measures would not only focus on the Odi Magistrate’s Court but would also be implemented around the country, said Mothupi. — Sapa