• Three employees working for the Western Cape National Prosecuting Authority died within the last week.
• Advocate Vukile Gontsana was murdered in Kleinvlei on Saturday. He was shot and killed.
• Mornay Julius, a seasoned prosecutor died of Covid-19 on Sunday, while administrative clerk Monica Lesimola succumbed earlier in the week.

A State advocate moonlighting as a driver for an e-hailing service was one of three staffers from the Western Cape National Prosecuting Authority who died within the last week.

Advocate Vukile Gontsana was murdered in Kleinvlei on Saturday. He was shot and killed.

Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk said his assailants fled the scene at 12:45 in Stadenberg Street, Palm Park, and have not yet been arrested.

Advocate Vukile Gontsana. (Supplied)

Gontsana was identified as an Uber driver in his 30s by the police.

NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila confirmed Gontsana was gunned down while in his vehicle.

He recently joined the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions as a State Advocate.

After graduating from the University of the Western Cape Gontsana joined the Athlone Justice Centre before registering for the National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) Aspirant Prosecutor Programme in George.

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He started prosecuting at the Khayelitsha Magistrate's Court before being transferred to Mitchells Plain, Parow, and Blue Downs.

"Advocate Gontsana will be remembered for his dedication to his work, his love for his soccer team [where he was] coaching youngsters, and for his family," Ntabazalila said.

A day later, Advocate Mornay Julius, a seasoned State advocate, succumbed to Covid-19 after being hospitalised.

Advocate Mornay Julius. (Supplied)

One of his most recent cases in the Western Cape High Court was the murder of one-year-old Orderick Lucas, whose body was found in a drain near his grandmother and legal guardian Cornelia Scheepers' home in Witebol Close, Melton Rose, two years ago.

Melvin Volkwyn, a friend of the toddler's mother, is on trial.

Julius, also a graduate of UWC, started his career in George.

"He grew his reputation as a fair, even-tempered and formidable opponent," Ntabazalila said.

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"He later was appointed at the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Western Cape where he continued to serve as a formidable advocate. He will be remembered for his love of family, his infectious laugh, his unrelenting cross-examination skills, his gentleness and his generosity of spirit."

Earlier last week, administrative clerk Monica Lesimola died of Covid-19 following a long illness and hospitaltisation, Ntabazalila confirmed.

Admin clerk Monica Lesimola. (Supplied)

"She will be remembered for her warmth, humbleness and dedication to her work," he said.

According to the latest provincial statistics, an average of 104 people are dying per day amid the third wave of the pandemic.

Source: News24