Johannesburg - A Benoni magistrate has received extra security after a man whose attempted murder case she presided over allegedly tried taking a hit out on her.
Two sources confirmed to The Star that Magistrate Mitzi Schutte was the target of the hit attempt.
The newspaper reports that no charges have been laid due to a lack of evidence. However it is possible that charges could still be laid.
The attempted hit is probably an attempt to intimidate the magistrate, one of the sources said.
Schutte has been at the centre of a few controversies in recent years and was taken to the Magistrates’ Commission on at least three occasions.
In July 2010, Sapa reported that Schutte’s conduct in the attempted murder trial of Thokozani Ndlangamandla filled two judges of the North Gauteng High Court with such dismay that they directed the registrar of the court to forward a copy of their judgment to the commission for investigation.
Quoting numerous passages from Ndlangamandla's trial, Judge W F Pienaar said it clearly demonstrated a presiding officer who was meddlesome not only with the prosecution, but also with the defence, the interpreter, the witnesses and the accused.
A clearly irritated Schutte used expressions such as "Oh for crying out loud" and "for crying in a bucket", made sarcastic remarks and at one stage told the interpreter: "I know communication is one of the lazy hobbies in society, but just enquire from him what in God's name does he mean by jump..."