The Westbury community has been left in shock and mourning after two teenagers were fatally shot and five others injured in a suspected gang-related shooting on Tuesday afternoon.
According to police, the shooting occurred at around 1pm on Croesus Street, where seven teenagers were sitting on the porch of a house. They were approached by four individuals believed to be members of a rival gang. Three of the suspects were armed and opened fire without warning before fleeing the scene. The Gauteng police have since launched an investigation into the attack.
The incident has reignited anger and fear among residents, many of whom say gang violence has become a daily threat in the area. Community members gathered at the scene, expressing frustration at what they described as continued police inaction against known gang members.
“Our children are not safe. They were just chilling, but now they can’t even sit on the veranda without being attacked by gunmen,” said one resident, who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation. “I blame the police for not doing enough to address the guns and ammunition that these young kids carry openly. I also blame the parents of some of these children, who do not report their children to the police. Someone is supplying guns to these children. However, no one seems to know anything about this. The situation is very bad.”
Another parent said the violence is now spilling over into social media, where online feuds often escalate into deadly shootings. “What is happening now is that our children’s pictures are being posted on social media, and just because some child has a beef with another, they get people who are willing to pull the trigger and kill our children,” the parent said. “This community is gone. There is no hope. No one is safe. There are no opportunities. After matric, people just stay home and sell drugs because they are hungry.”
Deputy Police Commissioner General Fred Kekana, who visited the area, appealed for calm and urged residents to work closely with the police to stop the violence. “The parents of those young people and the community around must help us because this is a joint responsibility,” he said. “They must say, as the community, we will not allow these things in our environment. It must also start with the street committees so that we protect our streets. No drugs must be sold, and if so, we deal with those people. That on its own will be a deterrent.”
Kekana confirmed that the shooting was gang-related and said police were pursuing the suspects, who are known to both authorities and residents. “The suspects are known to the community, and we know where they live. We are on a manhunt for them,” he said. “During the incident, the commander of crime prevention and the visible commander of Sophiatown police station were only three streets away with their team conducting routine crime prevention. This area is known for drug-related activity and gang turf conflicts. They reacted immediately.”
As the investigation continues, residents are calling for stronger law enforcement and social intervention to save their children from the cycle of drugs, poverty, and gang warfare. For many in Westbury, Tuesday’s shooting is yet another painful reminder of the deep-rooted violence threatening to destroy their community.
