Murder by Appointment: South African Lawyers Face Assassination

The article discusses a worrying trend of assassinations targeting lawyers in South Africa. Lawyers who are actively involved in tackling corruption and organized crime are being targeted by hit men, often hired by powerful individuals or criminal organizations. The article highlights several high-profile cases where lawyers have been murdered, including Mthokozisi Ntumba, who was shot dead outside his office after receiving death threats. The article also mentions the case of Adv. Griffiths Mxenge, who was brutally murdered in 1981 for his efforts to expose apartheid-era atrocities. The article emphasizes the chilling impact these attacks have had on the legal profession, with many lawyers now fearing for their safety and reluctant to take on high-profile cases involving corruption or organized crime. The article suggests that this trend is a worrying sign of the power wielded by criminal elements in the country and the ongoing challenges in the fight against corruption and lawlessness.