A community in Westbury is in mourning and under heightened police surveillance after a shooting on Tuesday claimed the lives of two teenagers and left five others wounded.
According to police preliminary reports, the incident is believed to be gang-related. The shooting occurred at a private home, with the grandmother of two of the victims confirming the incident took place at her residence.
The national police commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, has taken direct control of the response. On Wednesday, he was briefed at a police station by top brass, including Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni. The briefing involved units from the anti-gang task force, public order policing, and the flying squad.
This high-level mobilization follows General Masemola’s condemnation of the attack on Tuesday, where he stated that police know the identities of the attackers and are expecting to make arrests soon, citing the existence of video evidence.
The human cost of the violence was detailed in a report from the Helen Joseph Hospital, where five teenagers were admitted. Tragically, two of the victims died upon arrival at the facility.
The grandmother of two of the teenagers spoke out, describing the profound fear that has gripped the community. She stated it is difficult for families to live in the area, alleging that gangs are “terrorizing the community” and that the local Sophiatown police station has not done enough to address the problem.
The situation has become so dire that children are afraid to attend school, according to the grandmother. She refuted claims that the teenagers involved were part of gangs, stating she did not know if they used drugs but emphasized the immense difficulty of living in the area. The community is now pleading with police, specifically the anti-gang unit, for immediate and lasting intervention.
Police units are now expected to engage directly with the Westbury community as authorities intensify their efforts to apprehend the suspects and restore order to an area where residents say such violence has been a persistent threat for a very long time.