Masemola condemns conduct of Westbury residents who attacked AGU members

JOHANNESBURG - The national police commissioner has condemned the conduct of Westbury community members who attacked members of the anti-gang unit.

General Fannie Masemola said officers deployed to fight gang-related crimes in the area were pelted with rocks while on patrol.

The officers were attacked when they arrested a man found in possession of drugs during a stop and search operation on Tuesday.

Westbury is one of seven areas in Gauteng where the community has been battling with drug and gang-related crimes.

Masemola said it's unfortunate that the community has now turned on the officers deployed to protect them.

Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said: "General Fannie Masemola has expressed his disappointment in the conduct of this community that quite often complains about high crime levels in the area, including the fight over turf between drug dealers and traffickers. The community of Westbury have from time to time been complaining about high levels of crime, including drug dealing in the area. We have deployed the anti-gang unit."

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Eyewitness News travelled to some of the most gang-ridden areas in South Africa - Westbury in Gauteng, Hanover Park and Manenberg in Western Cape and Wentworth in KwaZulu-Natal - to uncover the harsh realities of gangsterism.