Police launch a manhunt following the assassination of Johannesburg Attorney Bouwer van Niekerk
Mapaballo Borotho
- Johannesburg attorney Bouwer van Niekerk was shot dead in his Saxonwold office by suspects posing as clients.
- Police have launched a manhunt for four individuals, with the motive still unknown.
- Van Niekerk had reportedly received death threats and was involved in sensitive legal cases before his assassination.
Gauteng police have launched a manhunt for approximately four suspects in connection with the assassination of prominent Johannesburg attorney Bouwer van Niekerk, who was shot and killed at his legal practice in Saxonwold on Friday.
According to Gauteng police spokesperson Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, the suspects arrived at van Niekerk’s office posing as clients with a scheduled appointment.
“Only two of the men went inside. While in the boardroom, gunshots were heard. The unknown men fled the scene. The 43-year-old attorney was declared dead on the scene,” said Nevhuhulwi.
The motive for the attack remains unknown, and police investigations are ongoing.
Van Niekerk was known for working on high-profile and sensitive legal cases, including matters involving the Gupta family.
He had also publicly spoken out about the unresolved murders of whistleblower Babita Deokaran and lawyers Cloete and Thomas Murray.
Reports suggest van Niekerk had received death threats in the days leading up to his assassination and was involved in a business rescue case linked to a major Ponzi scheme at the time of his death.