Three more suspects in Westbury shooting were arrested Image credit: X @KayaNews
(The Post News) – The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), General Fanie Masemola has confirmed that a large-scale manhunt is underway for four teenagers believed to be behind the deadly mass shooting in Westbury yesterday.
The mass shooting, which left two young men, aged 17 and 18, dead and four others wounded. It is believed to be linked to escalating gang violence in the area.
According to SAPS, the teenagers were approached by four suspects on foot, three carrying firearms.
“The suspects opened fire at the victims without saying anything and the fled the scene.”
SAPS further stated that the victims, who remain hospitalised, are aged between 13 and 19 years.
Following the incident, General Masemola visited Westbury and met with provincial SAPS management to review and adjust intervention strategies. He emphasized that the pursuit of the suspects is now the top priority.
“The men and women in blue are working around the clock to make sure that we apprehend the four teenagers that are behind this shooting that took place yesterday here in Westbury,” General Masemola stated. The Commissioner further appealed to parents and community for assistance in locating the suspects.
“It is just a matter of time that we take down those teenagers and we also call upon parents to come and assist in tracing this youth. They would know best where they are,” he said, noting that only one parent has been actively cooperating so far.” Moreover, in response to the tragedy, General Masemola announced a new directive targeting non-compliant public establishments known to harbour minors during school hours.
“I have also instructed the provincial commissioner to deal with this matter of lowly lounges decisively because most of the children bunk school and they go and sit at these lowly lounges and do smoking and all other illegal things,” he revealed.
Furthermore, the Commissioner addressed the issue of how illegal weapons enter the community, stating that many of them have been stolen from police officers or private owners within the same communities.
“Most of them are firearms that were previously owned. Some are robbed from police officers from around this area including some of them have been robbed and or stolen from owners within the very same community.”
He concluded by highlighting the Anti-Gang Unit’s recent successes, noting that the AGU operates in eight communities, including Westbury, Langlaagte, and Eldorado Park.
“In a period of four months… the Anti-Gang Unit has arrested 176 suspects for crimes which include murder, attempted murder, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition as well as possession of drugs in all these eight communities that are counted,” the Commissioner concluded.
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