A Gqeberha security guard who was stationed at the Motherwell Magistrates Court when Sergeant Mario Nel was murdered, recounted the chaos that ensued during his testimony in court on Tuesday.
Nel, 42, was shot and killed on 3 May last year after a civilian attacked him from behind and grabbed his service pistol.
He was dressed in full police uniform on the day.
The state alleges that Andile Nyoka attacked Nel at around 08:50 while he was pinning the court roll for the day on the notice board.
Nyoka allegedly grabbed Nel's service pistol and the two of them wrestled for possession of the gun.
In the process, Nel was shot through his head.
According to the charge sheet, Nyoka exited the court building with Nel's firearm.
Mzolisi Komani, who works as a security guard testified that he was posted at the main entrance of the court building and that he was tasked with searching the men who entered the courtroom.
He said he observed the accused and what he was wearing because the accused was impatient and tried to force his way into the building by skipping the queue.
According to Komani, Nyoka was wearing a white vest and green tracksuit pants.
Komani told the court that he heard screams from the public inside the court about ten minutes after Nyoka entered the building.
While people were screaming, the senior site officer told Komani to shut the entrance to the court via their radios.
Before he could close the door, however, he heard a gunshot go off.
"I was not sure where the gunshot was coming from or who fired it.
"People were running through the main door to get out of the building."
At this point, Komani testified, he noticed the man who tried to get past him in line during the search walking towards him holding a firearm in his hand.
He said the firearm was pointed towards the sky.
"I realised that there was nobody next to me. Everyone had run away.
"Fearing for my own life, I ran too," said Komani.
He later identified Nyoka during an ID-parade.
The trial continues.
