Gauteng Lawmakers Condemn Westbury Teen Shootings, Call for Urgent Anti-Gang Action

The Gauteng Provincial Legislature's Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has condemned the mass shooting in Westbury, Johannesburg, which left two teenagers dead and four others wounded, describing the incident as a tragic reflection of deteriorating community safety and social cohesion in the area.

According to police reports, six teenagers aged between 14 and 19 were attacked in what is believed to be a gang-related shooting on Tuesday evening. Two of the victims were declared dead upon arrival at hospital, while four others remain under medical care.

"The involvement of young people in such brutal violence is a devastating indictment of the current state of community safety and social cohesion in Westbury," the Committee said. "This senseless loss of life and the ongoing climate of fear are directly linked to the scourge of gang violence, drug trafficking, and the proliferation of illegal firearms."

Police Mobilise Anti-Gang Units and Forensic Teams

The South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed that the Provincial Anti-Gang Unit, Forensic Services, and District Crime Intelligence have been mobilised to investigate and track down the suspects, believed to be affiliated with a rival gang operating in the area.

The Committee called for the deployment of specialised tactical teams and high-density policing operations to stabilise Westbury, dismantle criminal networks, and restore public confidence in law enforcement.

"Peace must prevail in Westbury. The residents of this community—and all communities across Gauteng—have a constitutional right to live in safety and without fear. The ongoing terror inflicted by a criminal minority must come to an end," the Committee said.

The Growing Scourge of Gang Violence in Gauteng

The tragedy in Westbury highlights the growing influence of gangs and organised crime across Johannesburg's inner suburbs and surrounding townships. Analysts have warned that gang recruitment of youth, combined with high unemployment, poverty, and easy access to drugs and illegal firearms, has created a volatile environment.

According to the Gauteng Department of Community Safety, Westbury remains one of the province's crime hotspots, with repeated incidents of gang-related shootings, extortion, and turf wars over drug distribution routes.

Community leaders and activists have long criticised the slow response by authorities, arguing that residents have been "living under siege" for years, with gang activity often erupting in public spaces near schools and community centres.

Call for Crackdown on Illegal Firearms

The Committee identified the proliferation of illegal firearms as one of the key enablers of violence in the area. It has called on SAPS to intensify operations aimed at tracing, confiscating, and destroying illegal guns circulating in Westbury and surrounding communities.

"Easy access to illegal weapons is a primary driver of the violence terrorising Westbury and other communities across the province," the statement read.

The Committee also urged the SAPS to publish detailed statistics on firearm-related crimes and enhance collaboration with Gun Free South Africa and other civil society organisations advocating for gun control and disarmament initiatives.

"We further call for strengthened support for initiatives such as Gun Free South Africa, which advocate for safer communities through the reduction of firearm-related violence," the Committee added.

Strengthening Community Safety and Youth Prevention Programmes

In addition to policing interventions, the Committee emphasised the need for holistic, community-based strategies that address the root causes of gang involvement among young people. It called for partnerships between the Gauteng Department of Social Development, Department of Basic Education, and civil society organisations to expand youth empowerment and rehabilitation programmes.

Experts say that young people in areas like Westbury are often drawn into gang activity due to limited employment prospects, lack of recreational opportunities, and exposure to violence from an early age.

"The involvement of teenagers in violent gang rivalries is not just a policing problem—it's a societal failure," said a local youth worker. "We need interventions that provide alternatives, mentorship, and hope."

Oversight and Accountability

The Committee reaffirmed its commitment to exercising its oversight role over law enforcement and other government departments responsible for community safety. It pledged to ensure that SAPS acts with urgency, that investigations are prioritised, and that justice is served for the victims and their families.

"The Committee stands in solidarity with the law-abiding residents of Westbury and commits to exercising its oversight role to ensure that SAPS and other relevant government agencies act with the urgency this situation demands," the statement read.

Community Demands for Long-Term Safety Measures

Residents of Westbury, many of whom have taken part in anti-crime marches and vigils, are calling for sustained police visibility, not just short-term interventions following violent incidents.

Local leaders have urged the government to expand employment and social cohesion programmes, rebuild trust between police and communities, and ensure that schools and youth centres become safe spaces for development rather than recruitment grounds for gangs.

A Westbury community representative said the latest shooting had "ripped open old wounds," recalling previous tragedies in the area linked to gang turf wars.

"We are tired of burying our children," she said. "We need lasting peace, jobs for our youth, and police who will protect us—not just after people die, but before."

A Call for Peace and Justice

As investigations continue, the Committee reiterated that the fight against gang violence in Westbury and other affected areas will require collective responsibility—from law enforcement, government, and communities alike.

It stressed that every life lost to gang warfare represents a failure of governance, opportunity, and protection, and that restoring safety and dignity to these communities must remain a provincial and national priority.