A family has been left reeling after a deadly shooting in Westbury that claimed two lives and left several others wounded on Thursday night, in yet another incident highlighting the persistent violence that has plagued the area.
Authorities confirmed that five people, including a 15-month-old baby, were shot during the attack at the corner of Lark Spur Court and Jacaranda Court. The victims were reportedly in the area when an unknown number of suspects opened fire.
All five victims sustained gunshot wounds. An adult woman was declared dead on arrival at the hospital, while another victim later died from their injuries.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili said investigations are ongoing.
“The motive of the shooting is still unknown as the investigation into murder and attempted murder continues,” Muridili said.
A family member of one of the victims, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to safety concerns, described the devastating shock the family is experiencing.
“It’s hard, still at the point of not believing. Especially the circumstances of how it happened. We still feel like this person will just walk through the door,” the relative told the Saturday Star.
According to the family member, the shooting happened suddenly.
“Two guys rocked up and started opening fire,” they said.
Residents say the sound of gunfire has become disturbingly common in Westbury, but the scale and indiscriminate nature of the attack have left the community shaken.
“It’s crazy, you hear random gunshots. If not every night, then every second night that doesn’t have casualties, but when there are casualties it would be two or three people. Look at what happened yesterday. It is totally crazy,” the family member said.
“Five people get shot by two guys in an area that is filled with women, children, toddlers, babies and elderly persons. It’s unheard of that something could happen, and these guys don’t just come here, shoot at someone a couple of times, and run.”
The relative said the attackers lately are always determined to kill, regardless of who is caught in the crossfire.
“When they start shooting, it's like they say, ‘we have to kill someone’. Even though we don’t get the person we are looking for, whoever we find, we are going to kill that person. So that is ultimately what transpired yesterday,” they said.
Fear within the community has also made it difficult for witnesses to speak out. Another onlooker said many residents are reluctant to talk to the media or police because witnesses themselves have previously been targeted.
The onlooker added that the suspects had disguised themselves before fleeing the scene after the shooting.
Police are now investigating two counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder after the second victim succumbed to their injuries in the hospital.
“No arrests have been made as yet, and the police request the community of Sophiatown to work together with them by providing any information that can assist with the investigation by contacting the local police,” police said.
The incident has also drawn political attention, with the GOOD party calling on Johannesburg Executive Mayor Dada Morero to urgently intervene in the escalating gang violence in Westbury.
“For residents of Westbury, these incidents are not isolated events. Communities have been living with persistent gang activity, drug trafficking, and illegal firearms for years. Each new shooting simply confirms what residents already know: government responses have been reactive, fragmented, and insufficient,” the party said.
“When children are caught in the crossfire in their own neighbourhoods, it is a sign that the state has lost its grip on safety in that community. The City cannot simply wait for the next shooting before responding.”
Violence in the area has been a recurring concern. Last year, six teenagers were shot in what was believed to be a gang-related incident in Westbury. Two of the teenagers were declared dead on arrival at the hospital, while four others remain under medical care.
Following that incident, the Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety said the involvement of young people in violent crime reflects deeper social challenges in the community.
GOOD also warned that gang violence is rooted in broader socio-economic conditions.
“GOOD believes that gang violence does not emerge in a vacuum. It grows in communities where there is long-term neglect, high unemployment, poor urban management, and limited opportunities for young people. If the City is serious about addressing the crisis in Westbury, it must recognise that gang violence is not only a policing issue, it is also a governance and development issue,” the party said.
“Gang activity flourishes where public spaces are neglected. The City must strengthen urban management through improved street lighting, CCTV coverage, maintenance of public spaces, and visible law-enforcement patrols.”
The party added that young people in communities such as Westbury are often drawn into gangs due to a lack of alternatives.
“Youth in communities like Westbury are often recruited into gangs because there are few viable alternatives. Investment in youth programmes, sport, skills development, and local economic opportunities is essential to break this cycle,” the statement read.
“Westbury residents have been raising concerns about gang violence for years. They should not have to wait for another child to be shot before the government responds. Mayor Morero must now step in and ensure that the full weight of government is put behind this crisis. Communities like Westbury deserve safety, opportunity, and a government that acts before tragedy strikes, not after.”
Saturday Star