Gauteng’s Acting Police Commissioner says community cooperation is key to reducing gang violence in high-risk areas

Gauteng Acting Police Commissioner Fred Kekana said gang-related violence in high-risk areas like Westbury in Johannesburg can be curbed with the help of residents.

He said it’s concerning that teenagers have access to firearms and are pressured to join gangs at an early age.

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This follows a shooting incident in the area on Tuesday, where four teenagers opened fire on a group of seven others, killing two and injuring five.

While the motive for the shooting is still under investigation, police have not ruled out gang-related violence.

Even though the community insisted that the seven victims were not part of any gang crew, Kekana said it is still a great concern that young boys die at the hands of gangs when it could be prevented.

“You see, these things of these young boys who fight for territory or fight because we belong to another gang, it's a great concern which I think as community, we need to assist each other, starting with their own parents, because if you leave a 13-year-old to be part of a gang, what do you expect out of that person when he grows up?”