Zondo sounds the alarm over assaults on symbols of democracy

A man was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly using a hammer to smash the windows of the Constitutional Court and is expected to make his first court appearance on Friday. He has been charged with malicious damage to property.

Acting chief justice Raymond Zondo said on Thursday that though the incident did not hamper the work of judges and court staff‚ the security of the judiciary‚ support staff and people using the courts remained compromised and requires urgent attention.

“This incident comes shortly after other important state facilities have experienced unprecedented attacks‚ including recent threats having been made to cause damage to some superior courts.

“These attacks and threats seek to cause the destruction of these important facilities that the public rely on for the protection of their constitutional rights‚” he said in a statement.

Zondo urged law enforcement agencies to do everything in their power to put measures in place to avoid similar incidents in future.

“The judiciary appeals to all relevant organs of the state and functionaries responsible for state facilities and security services to ensure a threat- and risk-based assessment of arrangements around critical court facilities and important assets.”

He expressed his satisfaction that security officials and police were able to act swiftly to apprehend the suspect and prevent further damage to the building.

TimesLIVE