Police To Probe Allegations of Police Brutality During Westbury Community Protest

• The South African Police Service is investigating allegations that police attacked members of the Westbury community
• The community protested against a lack of water, and the protest resulted in a clash between community members and the police
• Police reportedly fired rubber bullets at protesters, and South Africans called the police out for their use of excessive force

Tebogo Mokwena, Briefly News’ Deputy Head of Current Affairs, contributed coverage of international and local social issues, including health, corruption, education, unemployment, labour, service delivery protests, and immigration in South Africa, during his seven years at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News.

WESTBURY, GAUTENG — The South African Police Service (SAPS) in Gauteng urged members of the Westbury community in Johannesburg on 112 September to open cases against SAPS members who used excessive force during a protest.

According to SABC News, Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo said that members of the community who were shot at by the police must come forward to open cases. This was after five community members were shot with rubber bullets during a two-day service delivery protest.

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Don't use excessive force: Mthombeni

The province's police commissioner, General Tommy Mthombeni, urged police officers not to use excessive force when attending to service delivery protests. He also called for calm between the police and the residents.

Why was Westbury protesting?

Community members protested over prolonged water outages. Westbury community members were joined by residents from Coronationville in a protest where they blocked the roads with tires and rocks. Residents have refused to stop protesting until the City of Johannesburg addresses the water shortages.

Similar water protests

Members of the Westbury community clashed with the police on 27 November 2024 during a water protest. The residents complained that they had been without water for over 27 hours when they took to the streets, burning tyres and blocking the roads.

Residents of Tembisa in Ekurhuleni also embarked on a water outage protest, which started on 9 September 2025. The residents complained that they had been without water for three weeks. They took to the streets to protest when the protest turned violent. Taxi drivers allegedly shot community members.

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South Africans weigh in

Netizens commenting on Facebook questioned the impact of service delivery protests. Some commented on the use of rubber bullets in protests.

Tshenolo Nap's Jamolo asked:

"Why can't we protest at the municipality's offices and not on the streets?"

Sabelo Mjacu asked:

"How will this work when you open a case against the police at a police station to hopefully get the very same police behind bars?"

Tony Dehwa said:

"So the police will allow you to open a case against themselves."

Janice Mosavel said:

"They won't do anything to your case. Ask me. I'm still waiting for feedback on when I got shot by the police while on my way home."

Lolo Makgatho asked:

"Where is the human rights commission?"

Community members burn municipal offices

In a related article, Briefly News reported that members of a community in Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal, torched the municipal offices. The municipality implemented load reduction on 10 September 2025, sparking outrage.

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3 men killed and set alight in Kraaifontein vigilante attack, SA blames police for community anger

The community embarked on a service delivery protest to complain about the allegedly unannounced load reduction. The province's MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Thulasizwe Buthelezi, said he would visit the area on 12 September.

Source: Briefly News