The shooting of seven teenagers in Westbury, Johannesburg, on Tuesday afternoon has triggered widespread outrage and renewed calls for decisive action against gangsterism, illegal firearms, and youth recruitment into criminal networks.

Police confirmed that two teenagers aged 14 and 19 were killed while five others, all under 19, are being treated in hospital following what is believed to be a gang-related attack. The incident occurred on the first day of the 2025 National Senior Certificate examinations, heightening national concern about youth safety.

National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), General Fannie Masemola, condemned the killings and expressed alarm at the growing involvement of children in gang activities.

“What is of concern and quite disturbing as we gather this evening is the involvement of children in gang related activities,” said Masemola. “We are seeing young children as young as 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 being used as runners by older gang members and leaders. They are being recruited at a very young age and doing the dirty work for older members of these gangs.”

Masemola confirmed that the suspects being sought in connection with the shooting are four teenagers believed to belong to a rival gang. He stated that investigations were progressing swiftly.

“We know who we are looking for and we are confident that we will find these perpetrators who are believed to be four teenagers,” he said. “We will win this war, but such a war can only be fought if parents and guardians come on board. All these children are school-going and should have been in a classroom being taught by their teachers.”

The National Commissioner said he would personally visit Westbury and the Sophiatown Police Station to monitor police deployments in the area. He also revealed that police operations had already led to several arrests and convictions in Westbury.

“From January to date, we have had 19 gangsters arrested in Westbury alone. During the same period, 11 gangsters were also sentenced to time in prison for gang related activities,” said Masemola. “We are continuously enhancing our strategies and plans to adjust to crime patterns and we are certain that with the support of all key stakeholders including the community members and parents, we will surely get it right.”

The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety also released a statement calling for urgent action to address the proliferation of illegal firearms and to intensify police presence in Westbury.
Committee Chairperson Bandile Masuku said, “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 easy access to illegal weapons is a primary enabler of the violence terrorising this community.”

Masuku called for specialised police units, including the Tactical Response Teams and the Anti-Gang Unit, to be deployed permanently in the area. “A high-density, visible policing operation is essential to stabilise the area, dismantle criminal networks, and prevent further bloodshed,” he said.

The Committee also appealed for long-term solutions addressing youth development and community rebuilding. “Immediate law enforcement action is critical, but long-term safety requires a multi-sectoral approach,” Masuku said. “We call for increased investment in social services, youth development programmes, and economic opportunities to address the root causes of crime.”

Political and civil organisations have joined the growing chorus of voices condemning the attack and calling for action.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) described the incident as a reflection of deepening moral and social decay. EFF national spokesperson Sinawo Thambo said, “It is of greater concern that the individuals harmed in this incident are said to have been involved in gang-related activity, and the attack on them was from a rival gang. It reflects the moral and social decay in our society, where teenagers as young as 14 years old are engaged in violent activity involving firearms.”

Thambo called for a coordinated response from law enforcement and the judiciary to dismantle criminal syndicates. “The EFF calls on law enforcement agencies, including the National Prosecuting Authority and the South African Police Service, to intensify the fight against drug cartels, criminal syndicates, and organised crime,” he said.

The Forum for South Africa (FOSA) also condemned the shooting, saying the police lack effective strategies to deal with gangsterism. FOSA national leader Tebogo Mashilompane said, “Communities continue to live in fear while government leadership fails to act decisively. Teenagers and school pupils today act without discipline or accountability because the government removed structures that once maintained order in schools.”

Mashilompane urged the Ministry of Basic Education to introduce measures to prevent gangsterism among school learners. “Every child of school-going age must be at school,” he said. “The Ministry of Basic Education must urgently restore discipline, guidance, and structured activities.”

Education activist Hendrick Makaneta said the killings were a tragic reminder of the dangers facing young people in communities affected by crime. “No family should ever have to endure such pain, especially when the victims are so young and full of potential,” said Makaneta. “The killing of young people is an attack on the future of our country.”

He called for schools, churches, and community centres to play a stronger role in protecting children from gang recruitment. “Schools must once again become pillars of safety and moral guidance,” he said. “We call on government to strengthen school safety programmes and provide psychosocial support to learners growing up in high-risk environments.”

As police continue their manhunt for the suspects, the community of Westbury remains tense. Residents say they fear retaliation and further violence. Community leaders have urged calm and cooperation with law enforcement.

Police confirmed that the Anti-Gang Unit, Crime Intelligence, and Forensic Services are continuing to work together in tracing the suspects. Gauteng police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili said, “We are leaving no stone unturned in this investigation. The perpetrators will be found and brought to justice.”