Five shot at Booysens Magistrates' Court, two dead
The Justice Ministry says the incident is still active and that Deputy Minister Andries Nel is on his way to the scene.
Five people were shot at the Booysens Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 20 January 2026, and two of them have died. The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development confirmed the figures in a statement issued the same day.
Law enforcement agencies are attending to the incident, which the Ministry described as still active at the time of its statement. The Ministry said it is awaiting further verified details from law enforcement agencies and court management.
Deputy Minister Andries Nel is scheduled to travel to the scene to assess the situation.
What the record so far shows
The Ministry’s statement is a summary issued while the incident was still under way, not a full account of what happened. It records the location, the date and the casualty figures, and it names the Deputy Minister’s planned visit. It does not name any of the people who were shot, does not describe a sequence of events, and does not say whether anyone has been arrested or charged.
Those details rest with the South African Police Service and with court management, and the Ministry said it would provide updates as more information becomes available.
Booysens Magistrates’ Court sits in the south of Johannesburg and serves a busy urban catchment. On any ordinary weekday its corridors carry members of the public attending hearings, complainants, witnesses, accused people on remand and the staff who process their matters.
The Ministry’s position
The Ministry condemned the incident and said it will work with the relevant security and law enforcement authorities to ensure that all necessary measures are implemented to safeguard court users and personnel.
The statement was issued by the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development of the Republic of South Africa. Media enquiries are directed to Samuel Modipane, spokesperson for the department, on +27 81 440 6179.
What happens next
The Deputy Minister’s visit to the scene is the next scheduled step on the public record. The Ministry has undertaken to release further verified information as it is confirmed by law enforcement agencies and court management. That is where the names, the sequence of events and any charges will appear, and until then the casualty figures in the Ministry’s statement are the only confirmed account of the incident.
Court users in the Booysens area should expect the court’s operations to be affected while the scene is processed. No guidance on hearings scheduled for Wednesday has been issued.
Source: Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. Read the original item.
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