Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za
3-minute read | 24 October 2025 | 10:25 CAT

📸 Image: Police and community members at the scene of a Westbury gang-related shooting. Photo credits: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers.

Two teenagers have been killed and five others wounded in a devastating shooting in Westbury, Johannesburg – a tragedy the Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has described as “deeply shocking and saddening.”

The incident unfolded in the Firetown area when four teenagers allegedly opened fire on another group of youths sitting on the porch of a house. According to authorities, both groups are suspected of being members of rival gangs.

Committee chairperson Dr Bandile Masuku spoke to Radio Islam International, confirming that the wounded victims remain in the hospital. “One was transferred to a tertiary hospital because of the severity of the injuries,” said Masuku. “What is being suspected is that it is gang-related and it’s all about what is happening in Westbury.”

Police investigations are ongoing, with officers following up on “reliable information” and eyewitness accounts that could lead to arrests.

Dr Masuku voiced serious concern about the growing involvement of youth in gang violence, noting that those involved in this latest shooting are aged between 14 and 19. “It is a phenomenon we’ve been observing over the past years,” he said. “Now it’s youngsters who are not only transporting drugs but also becoming hitmen. The gangs are actually recruiting the youngsters.”

He highlighted that prosecuting minors poses additional challenges. “Because of their age, it becomes very difficult to put them on trial without complications in the justice system,” Masuku explained.

The Portfolio Committee has called for immediate, strengthened efforts by law enforcement agencies, particularly the anti-gang unit operating across Gauteng in areas such as Westbury, Riverlea, and Eldorado Park. Masuku emphasised that consistent data is essential to tackling the crisis effectively.

“The call that we are making, particularly to the police, is that they must start giving us statistics that relate to crimes committed through gangs,” he urged. “This will help us raise awareness because if we focus on recruiting the gangs circulating in our communities, a number of crime categories will actually reduce drastically.”

As investigations continue, the community of Westbury remains gripped by grief and fear, with residents calling for increased police visibility and youth rehabilitation programmes to address the deep-rooted cycle of violence.

Listen to the full interview on Your World Today with Mufti Yusuf Moosagie and Dr Bandile Masuku.