- Court finds police colonel responsible for threats, intimidation, and racist slurs.
- Applicants acted without lawyers but secured vital protection.
- Judgment exposes troubling lack of accountability within the police and prosecution.
“You will be shot. Your wife will die first. Your child will be next.” These chilling messages terrorised a Johannesburg family for years. The South Gauteng High Court has confirmed that they came from a senior police officer.
The Johannesburg High Court has ruled against Lieutenant Colonel Fatima Gaffoor, confirming an interdict to protect Mr and Mrs M, who stood up to intimidation despite being without legal representation. For them, the ruling is not just a court order, but recognition of years of fear, silence, and neglect.
The judgment outlines a disturbing pattern of harassment beginning in 2020. The threats escalated quickly, from insults to explicit death warnings. One message read: “Your wife will be shot first and then your child will [be] next before u r killed like a dog.” Another stated: “Ur not GAFFOOR i am … withdraw your cases. BANG BANG.”
The links to Gaffoor were overwhelming. Messages came from numbers tied to her identity documents, referred to her by name, and referenced legal action taken against her. Some even tracked the family’s movements from Parkview, where she was stationed.
Despite this, the National Prosecuting Authority declined to pursue charges, leaving the family to fend for themselves. Even after Mr M. obtained a protection order in 2021, the threats continued, becoming more violent and brazen.
The court’s findings
Judge SDJ Wilson found it more likely than not thatGaffoor was the “prime mover” behind the intimidation. Her attempt to claim she was the victim of a police conspiracy fell apart under cross-examination.
The judgment also found that the police and prosecution ignored strong evidence, allowing years of impunity. “No one in the police force appears to have sought either to exonerate her or hold her accountable,” the judge noted, calling the NPA’s refusal to prosecute “inexplicable.”
Protection and costs awarded
The court confirmed the interdict, prohibiting Gaffoor from any further threats or harassment, either directly or through others. The Minister of Police was ordered to enforce compliance, while the applicants received costs for their efforts.
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