The Randburg Magistrate’s Court in Johannesburg has been handling the bail application of 12 members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Special Task Force accused of murdering Hawks Specialist Investigator Lieutenant-Colonel Frans Mathipa. The bail hearing was ongoing but has been postponed to the following Friday for judgment. One of the 13 SANDF members charged expressed concern that a subpoena served on the SANDF could damage their relationship with the investigative body. Meanwhile, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has been conducting interviews in Sandton, Johannesburg, to fill the position of Deputy Chief Justice. Candidates shortlisted by President Cyril Ramaphosa include Gauteng Judge President Dunstan Mlambo, Northern Cape Judge President Pule Tlaletsi, and the Free State Judge President. The JSC also announced the swearing-in of six new Labour Court judges to strengthen the judiciary’s capacity to manage the increasing number of labor disputes. Separately, Cape Town has experienced a surge in shootings, with nearly 20 people killed in the past week. In Mitchells Plain on the Cape Flats, police arrested 14 suspects following a mass shooting that left five dead and seven wounded. Over 100 additional officers have been deployed to the area to address the violence.