Man stabbed at PE magistrate’s court

Port Elizabeth – A man was stabbed at the entrance of the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

The stabbing followed a heated exchange between a group of men in the court corridors.

The quarrel, which began outside Court 27 where Christopher Panayiotou and co-accused Sizwezakhe Vumazonke were making a brief appearance, was believed to be gang-related.

Outside the court room, a group of young men began arguing and, as tensions flared, court orderlies intervened and told the men to take their quarrel outside the court house.

Not long after, a loud commotion was heard coming from the entrance of the court, with people running in every direction while security rushed to the entrance.

People dived into various courtrooms as reports of shots fired spread through the building.

One group of men was seen being chased up the corridor by security officers.

Shortly afterwards, a man, who did not give his name, was seen in one of the men’s toilets. He was washing his T-shirt in the sink, with blood streaming down his back.

He had two deep puncture wounds near his neck and a stab wound to his head.

He said he had been asked to go outside, but had been attacked as soon as he left the court building by a man who came at him with an open blade. He had been stabbed at the court’s entrance.

Court officials escorted the man from the toilets and he sat in one of the side corridors, waiting for police officials.

Members of the Port Elizabeth gang squad arrived shortly afterwards and were seen talking to the stabbed man, as well as his friends.

Police spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg confirmed the incident. However, she gave no further information as charges had not been pressed and no case had been opened.

Derrick Spies, News24 Correspondent