South Africa: Murder of lawyer Chinette Gallichan in Johannesburg
1 April 2026
The OIAD is deeply concerned following the violent murder of Chinette Gallichan, a 35-year-old South African lawyer, who was shot dead in Johannesburg on Monday 23 March.
Ms Gallichan’s practice focused primarily on labour law and she was involved in disputes between employers and employees. Her work included cases relating to contested dismissals and claims for compensation in the mining sector[1].
The lawyer was arriving near the offices of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration (CCMA), where she was due to appear in a labour law case. An individual is reported to have approached her and shot her at point-blank range before fleeing the scene.
None of her personal belongings were taken; several sources suggest the possibility of a targeted attack. An investigation has been opened to establish the exact circumstances of this murder.
The murder of Ms Gallichan has caused great distress amongst her colleagues, who pay tribute to her professional commitment to the defence of labour rights in South Africa.
The Observatory extends its condolences to Ms Chinette Gallichan’s family, friends, colleagues and to the entire South African legal profession.
The Observatory urges the South African authorities to conduct a thorough, independent and impartial investigation to identify the authors of this murder and shed full light on this crime.
The Observatory emphasizes that any attack on a lawyer’s physical integrity in the course of their duties is a direct threat to access to justice and the independence of the judicial system, as enshrined in the South African Constitution.
The Observatory adds that in accordance with the Havana principles, lawyers must be able to carry out their duties without fear of reprisal, including in particularly sensitive legal disputes.
The Observatory recalls that in accordance with the aforementioned principles relating to the role of the Bar, States have an obligation to guarantee the protection of lawyers in the exercise of their duties.
[1] The mining sector in South Africa is often marked by labour disputes and sensitive legal cases, as demonstrated by the example of the Marikana massacre in 2012.
