Prosecutor killings in South Africa are drawing strong reactions from the legal sector. Advocacy group Freedom Under Law has called on the government to act swiftly, warning that the recent violence threatens the rule of law.
The group issued a statement following the murder of a prosecutor in Mpumalanga, stating that legal officials cannot work under constant threat.
Advocate Mabasa’s Death Highlights Growing Risks
In May, Advocate Hlulani Mabasa was gunned down outside his home in Mbombela. He had been handling sensitive organised crime cases. According to Freedom Under Law, his killing forms part of a wider trend of intimidation.
The group said such prosecutor killings reflect a growing crisis. As threats increase, criminal networks may grow bolder, knowing prosecutors are vulnerable.
Freedom Under Law Urges Immediate Action
The organisation urged the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Department of Justice to implement stronger protection measures. This includes better security for prosecutors, magistrates, and police working on high-risk cases.
Moreover, it warned that failing to act would allow intimidation to become normalised. Legal professionals, it added, need to feel safe in order to do their jobs effectively.
In addition, Freedom Under Law said the public must support efforts to protect the justice system.
Public Confidence at Stake
Experts say that continued prosecutor killings could erode public trust in law enforcement. If officials fear for their lives, they may avoid prosecuting major cases. Over time, this could weaken the fight against organised crime and corruption.
As a result, the group warned that the justice system cannot operate under fear. Prosecutors must be able to work without looking over their shoulders.
So far, no arrests have been made in Mabasa’s case. The group insisted that accountability is essential—not only to deliver justice but to send a clear message that attacks on justice officials will not go unanswered.
Ultimately, prosecutor killings threaten far more than individual lives they place the entire justice system at risk.
