Westbury Mother Calls for Stronger Police Action After Son Killed in Gang Shooting

• Shana Lyners lost her son Caston in a Westbury shooting on Saturday that claimed four lives in total
• Lyners said Caston was visiting a flat to collect an item and had no connection to those involved in the attack
• Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Police is launching a formal inquiry into gang violence across South Africa

GAUTENG — A Westbury, Gauteng mother whose son was killed in a gang-related shooting on 15 August 2026 is calling on law enforcement to take decisive action against the violence that continues to grip her community. The shooting happened over a week after four people were killed in a shooting in Reiger Park.

Shana Lyners lost her son, Caston, when gunmen opened fire at a flat he was visiting. She told eNCA that Caston had gone to the location solely to collect an item and had no connection to the people at the flat or to any gang activity. He had no reason to anticipate any danger, she said.

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Westbury shooting claims 4 lives

Caston was one of four people killed in the attack, which has sent shockwaves through the Westbury community. Residents are demanding an immediate end to the bloodshed as fear continues to mount in the area.

Lyners described the grief as unbearable. Speaking to eNCA, she said she cannot picture her life without her son, who was part of a close family of three. She said she is not coping and does not expect that to change anytime soon.

Parliament launches gang violence inquiry

The shooting comes as the national government prepares to confront the broader crisis of gang violence in South Africa. The Portfolio Committee on Police is initiating a formal parliamentary inquiry into gang-related violence, which will bring together victims, bereaved families, civil society organisations, and community groups to share their experiences. The inquiry will also assess the effectiveness of measures currently in place to combat gang violence and explore potential solutions to the crisis.

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View a post about the shooting on Facebook:

Teenager among 100 killed in Western Cape

In a related article, Briefly News reported on the tragic shooting of 18-year-old Keisha Lee Samuel, who was killed in a random attack amid a surge of gang violence in the Western Cape. Her untimely death is part of a disturbing trend, with over 100 murders reported in just one week, highlighting the escalating crisis of youth recruitment into gangs in the region.

Source: Briefly News