The fatal shooting of two teenagers in Westbury has prompted a call from Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi to tackle the proliferation of illegal firearms, as community leaders point to deep-seated social and economic issues fueling the ongoing gang violence.
The incident occurred on Tuesday when gunmen opened fire on a group of young people standing outside a house. The attack left two teenagers dead and five others wounded. Police authorities have confirmed that no arrests have yet been made, but stated they have identified suspects and are actively pursuing them.
In the wake of the tragedy, a community leader from Westbury, Lynn Wykes, provided a stark analysis of the cyclical violence plaguing the area. While expressing her condolences to the bereaved families, Wykes argued that gangsterism is not born of inherent evil but is a symptom of profound societal failure.
“Gangsterism is born out of exclusion,” Wykes stated. “Until… we address the roots of poverty, unemployment, and identity loss among the coloured people, you will find that the cycle will continue.”
She traced the origins of the current crisis back to the apartheid-era forced removals, which she said shattered families, destroyed community structures, and caused a deep loss of identity and belonging. This historical trauma, combined with present-day desperation, creates a fertile ground for gangs.
“Gangsterism is not just a crime issue,” Wykes explained. “It’s a symptom of deep social, economic, and historical wounds.”
The discussion also highlighted the role of economic deprivation. Wykes pointed to a near-total lack of job opportunities for the youth, making the lucrative drug trade run by gangs an attractive, if deadly, alternative. She noted that drug lords exploit children as young as 13, using them as cheap labour to sell drugs and carry out violent acts.
While acknowledging the complex systemic drivers, the conversation also turned to parental responsibility. The interviewer challenged the notion that parents are powerless, particularly when very young children are involved in violent crime.
“We need to draw hard lines in the sand here,” the interviewer said. “It cannot be that we say a 15-year-old is putting food on the table and therefore we condone his actions because he’s feeding his family. Not if you’re killing other people in order to do that.”
Wykes agreed, but detailed the immense pressures on parents, many of whom are themselves unemployed, struggling with addiction, or absent. She described a breakdown of the family and community moral code that once protected children.
“The village has totally been destroyed,” Wykes said.
To break the cycle, Wykes proposed a multi-faceted approach that includes creating jobs, restoring a sense of dignity and hope, and implementing intergenerational dialogues. She also emphasized the need for workshops to empower parents and programs to give the youth a sense of ownership and purpose, arguing that a purely security-based response is insufficient.
“As soon as [the army] leaves, we know that the status quo remains,” she said.
The conversation concluded with a consensus on the unacceptable nature of the violence, which this week claimed young lives and left a 12-year-old among the wounded, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive solutions.