Westbury Mass Shooting Leaves 2 Children Dead and Several Others Injured in Suspected Gang Violence
- Two teenagers were killed following a mass shooting in Westbury, Johannesburg, on 21 October 2025
- Five others were injured in the shooting, with one of the victims said to be in critical condition
- South Africans weighed in on the shooting, with many expressing concerns that youngsters were involved
Source: Twitter
Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.
GAUTENG – Two teenagers have been killed in a mass shooting in Westbury, Johannesburg, in what is believed to be a gang-related incident.
The victims, aged 17 and 19, were among a group of boys sitting inside a house in Westbury, Johannesburg, when four men entered the property. Three of the men were armed and opened fire on the group before fleeing.
Five teenagers, the youngest being only 13 years old, were injured in the shooting and rushed to a nearby hospital by residents who couldn't wait for an ambulance to arrive. A 16-year-old is said to be in critical condition, while the others are stable.
Police searching for the suspects involved in the shooting
Speaking to the media outside the scene of the crime, Major General Fred Kekana, the Deputy Provincial Police Commissioner of Gauteng, confirmed that police knew who the four suspects were and were tracing them.
He explained that they received affidavits from eyewitnesses and even had camera footage clearly showing the faces of the suspects.
General Kekana also confirmed that the shooting was gang-related, noting that it was a huge problem in the area. He explained that police were operating 24/7 to curb gang violence and were actually conducting operations in the area at the time of the shooting.
Source: Twitter
He explained that the Anti-Gang Unit was a few streets away, as was a Visible Policing (VisPol) Commander and his team, when the shooting occurred. Both teams left their operations and responded to the scene. 34 cartridges have since been recovered, as officers continue to comb the scene.
The area has been plagued by frequent shootings, with innocent people often caught in the crossfire.
South Africans weigh in on shooting
Social media users weighed in on the shooting, with many expressing concern that youngsters were involved.
Pablo Oceans exclaimed:
“But seriously, stop giving kids guns. Who is giving them guns? We have a similar problem in Toekomsrus.”
Smax Danti said:
“What’s happening in this country? Hebanna, 14-year-old kids? Aiy, even 19 is a pikinini mos.”
Armitage Margaret added:
“It’s a sad world in which youngsters are killing each other.”
Cathy Matshepo Masooane-Gebuza noted:
“Westbury is a dangerous neighbourhood.”
Piccadilly Carreras agreed:
“Westbury is like the Cape Flats.”
Westbury police attacked by residents
Briefly News reported that members of the Anti-Gang Unit were forced to flee from angry Westbury community members.
Community members attacked the officers in June 2025 after police tried to arrest a man for having drugs.
South Africans weighed in on the matter, calling for Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi to assist.
Source: Briefly News
