The FW de Klerk Foundation expresses its profound alarm at the escalating “culture of impunity” following the recent brutal murders of legal professionals across South Africa. These targeted assassinations represent a direct assault on Section 1(c) of the Constitution—the rule of law—and threaten to derail the administration of justice.

The Foundation notes with gravity the recent murder of labour attorney Chinette Gallichan, which follows the tragic deaths of insolvency attorney Bouwer van Niekerk (2025) and prosecutor Tracy Brown (2025).

These are not isolated criminal acts; they are part of a systematic “moral and constitutional emergency” where those who stand between criminal enterprises and accountability are being silenced by the gun.

“The cold-blooded targeting of legal practitioners is a direct attempt to paralyse the very heart of our democracy,” says Christo van der Rheede, Executive Director of the FW de Klerk Foundation. “When the defenders of our laws are hunted down for simply doing their jobs, we are witnessing the erosion of the state’s authority. We cannot allow hitmen and criminal syndicates to dictate the limits of justice in South Africa. If our legal officers are not safe, no citizen is safe and the constitutional promise of a just society becomes a hollowed-out shell.“

The Siege on the Justice System
In its latest constitutional monitoring, the Foundation highlighted that while there have been efforts toward renewal, the right to Life, Freedom and Security of the Person remains under severe threat. The “assassination market” currently operating in South Africa targets the most vital organs of our democracy: the judiciary, investigative officers and legal practitioners.

The Foundation previously called for urgent state intervention following the attempted assassination of Advocate Naudé and reports that a growing number of the country’s magistrates have faced threats or harm. The continued violence against attorneys and liquidators demonstrates that the “shadow state” is actively attempting to intimidate the legal fraternity into submission.

Urgent Recommendations for the State
– The FW de Klerk Foundation calls upon the President, the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Police to lead a “whole-of-state offensive” to restore the state’s monopoly on lawful force.
– ⁠Specifically, the Foundation urges:

• Establishment of Specialised Prosecution Teams: Dedicated units must focus exclusively on crimes against judicial officers and legal practitioners to ensure swift, principled accountability.
• Real-Time Crime Data Integration: A single platform linking SAPS, the NPA and forensics to identify and respond to murder hotspots and “hitman” networks.
• Strengthened Witness and Officer Protection: Immediate implementation of protective measures for “at-risk” legal officers, as required by Section 165(4) of the Constitution.
• Dismantling Extortion Rackets: Using the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA) to systematically target the leadership of syndicates that use violence to influence legal outcomes.

The Foundation stands in solidarity with the legal fraternity. We must ensure that the rule of law, not fear, determines our future.