Two teenagers have died and five others are recovering in hospital following a shooting incident that took place near a school in Westbury, Sophiatown, on Tuesday morning.
According to police reports, seven teenagers aged between 14 and 19 were shot by three suspects believed to be members of a rival gang. The incident is suspected to be gang related.

Gauteng police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili confirmed that the Provincial Anti Gang Unit and SAPS Forensic Services were immediately dispatched to the scene. District Crime Intelligence has also been mobilised to assist with the tracing and arrest of the suspects.

Brigadier Muridili said the victims were rushed to hospital shortly after the shooting, but two of them were declared dead on arrival. The other five remain under medical supervision and their condition is being monitored.

When news of the incident reached the community, anxious parents and residents rushed to the school to check on their children. Police had to maintain order as large crowds gathered outside the premises, seeking information about the victims and the cause of the shooting.

Authorities have not yet released the names of the deceased as the families are still being informed.

This tragic event adds to a growing list of violent incidents involving school-aged children in Gauteng. In recent months, several schools across the province have been affected by violence, bullying, and gang related activities.

Earlier this year, a 16 year old learner from a Soweto school was stabbed to death during a fight that broke out after classes. In another case in Alexandra, a 17 year old boy was attacked and fatally wounded by a group of learners outside school premises. Police investigations into both incidents are ongoing.

According to the Gauteng Department of Education, more than 100 school related violence cases were reported in the 2024 and 2025 academic years combined. These include physical assaults, stabbings, shootings, and gang related confrontations. The department has called on communities and parents to work together with school management teams and the police to ensure learner safety.

Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane has in the past expressed concern about the increasing level of violence in schools, saying that many of these incidents are linked to gang rivalry and social challenges in communities. The department has since introduced safety patrols and counseling services in affected areas, but incidents continue to occur.

Police have urged anyone with information about the Sophiatown shooting to come forward and assist with the investigation. Tip offs can be reported anonymously through the Crime Stop hotline or the MySAPS mobile application.

The identities of the suspects are still unknown, and no arrests have been made at this stage.

The investigation continues as authorities work to bring those responsible to justice and restore a sense of safety in the community.