Magistrate in sisters' custody battle gets protection

THE magistrate presiding over the custody battle involving a Mitchells Plain family has been placed under protection after the brother - arrested for murdering his two sisters, one of whom had custody of his children - allegedly tried to gain access to the magistrate's house.

- TRACY-LYNN RUITERS

A highly placed source close to the investigation said Ederees Smith was stopped at the entrance to the magistrate's house by security. Days later he would go to his children's school in Portlands, Mitchells Plain, where his two sisters were waiting for his two boys.

Here he allegedly shot dead his one sister that was waiting in her car, before he pursued his other sister and also shot her dead. A child who was waiting nearby was also injured.

The two sisters, Zainab Jacobs and Gouwah Smith-Newman died at the scene outside Portland Primary School.

The incident, which is being treated as a case of domestic violence and femicide, has sparked national outrage and highlighted the issue of gender-based violence (GBVF) in South Africa.

The source revealed that Smith, just days before his sisters' deaths, attempted to gain access to the magistrate's residence but was stopped by security personnel.

The magistrate has since been relocated to another province under police protection. "This is concerning, especially since South Africa is already battling the scourge of gender-based violence," said Nicholas Gotsell MP and DA National Council of Provinces Member on Security and Justice, adding he was made aware of the incident earlier in the week.