Justice and Constitutional Development Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, has called on police to “leave no stone unturned” to bring the murderers of Eastern Cape Regional Court prosecutor, Tracy Brown, to justice.
The Minister was speaking at the memorial service for the slain prosecutor on Thursday.
Brown, who was attached to the New Brighton Magistrates Court in Gqeberha, was shot and killed while arriving at her home just months after the murder of another prosecutor in the province.
“We call on the police to leave no stone unturned in bringing the cowards who murdered Tracy to book. But more importantly, let this be a wake-up call to the policing services that we need to strengthen the protection of the prosecutors.
“All of us in the security cluster should be concerned about this development. The lives of prosecutors are endangered by the type of work they do. Without protection, prosecutors will be unable to perform their duties without fear or favour, and they will not be able to exercise their independence. There should be more police visibility in our communities so these types of senseless killings can be reduced,” the Minister said.
Kubayi bemoaned the loss of an “incredibly gifted woman”.
“[This loss] is made even more devastating by the promise of what else she might have accomplished had she also had the gift of time. With her passion for the pursuit of justice, she would have been the first to say that her life’s work was not about her.
“In Tracy, we have lost a dedicated prosecutor, a lawyer with integrity, a hard-working public servant and a patriot.
“Her untimely death is a huge loss to the [Department of] Justice family. Death has robbed us of a warrior of justice, who prosecuted without fear or favour. As our hearts are heavy with pain and grief in mourning Tracy’s lost life. We are also here to celebrate a life well lived; a life of a person who found a purpose and she pursued it relentlessly.”
The Minister told those working in the justice system to continue their work in the same vein that Brown did.
“As we bid farewell to a devoted partner, a loving mother, a sister, an exceptional and patriotic public servant and our dear friend, let us resolve to pick up where Tracy left off.
"She put her skills, her time and her courage at the country’s disposal and for that, we owe her a great debt of gratitude. Let us resolve to continue the work that she began.
“[Let] us renew our commitment to building the more just society that Tracy Brown wished to live in; the more just society that was her life’s defining pursuit; the more just society that through our efforts we will one day achieve,” the Minister urged.
According to the Minister, Brown rose rapidly through the ranks of the National Prosecuting Authority – a testament for her “achievements and unblemished record as a prosecutor”.
“As we celebrate Women’s Month, let us pay tribute to patriots such as Tracy, who have dedicated themselves to human progress. Let her life and work serve as an example of the kind of passion and dedication that all of us should demonstrate to achieve a just society where women and children can be safe.
“On behalf of our government, let me again send our sincere condolences for this tragic loss. Let me also thank the family for lending Tracy to work with us and serve the people of South Africa. We will continue to cherish her legacy as a prosecutor, and we shall never dishonour her memory,” Kubayi said. – SAnews.gov.za
