Five Westbury Shooting Suspects Face Court as Community Seeks Justice

Two teens dead, five others wounded and Westbury demands answers.

The streets of Westbury are quiet again, but beneath the silence lies a deep sense of anger and grief. Two teenagers, 18-year-old Tigan du Plessis and 17-year-old Diegan Ryters, were gunned down in cold blood last month another tragic reminder of how young lives continue to be stolen by gun violence in one of Johannesburg’s most vulnerable communities.

Now, five suspects, including a 36-year-old alleged mastermind are expected to appear before the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. They face two counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder following the deadly mass shooting on October 21.

A Community Still in Shock

On that fateful evening along Croesus Street, a group of seven teenagers was approached by four armed men on foot. Moments later, the air was filled with gunfire. When it cleared, two were dead, and five others were left critically injured.

Residents say the shooting shook Westbury to its core. For years, the suburb has struggled under the weight of gang violence, drug wars, and poverty, issues that have turned once-close neighborhoods into fear-ridden zones.

“Every parent here is scared. You don’t know if your child will come home,” one community member told Sowetan Live. “We’re tired of burying our kids.”

How the Arrests Unfolded

According to Gauteng police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili, three suspects aged 17, 19, and 20 were arrested this week, with the 17-year-old handed over by his parents in accordance with the Child Justice Act. The older two were detained.

These three will join the first two suspects, including the alleged ringleader, who were already in custody. The Anti-Gang Unit made the arrests following an intensive investigation that saw community cooperation play a key role.

Muridili confirmed that two of the five injured victims have since been discharged from hospital, but three remain under medical care.

The Mastermind and the Waiting Game

The 36-year-old man, described by police as the mastermind behind the attack, made his first court appearance earlier this week. His case has now been postponed to Thursday, where he’ll appear alongside the other four suspects for a formal bail application.

He was arrested last Friday, and another 20-year-old was detained at a Diepkloof high school, adding a disturbing twist, suggesting the reach of violent networks extends even into learning spaces.

Westbury’s Long Battle With Violence

For Westbury residents, this isn’t just another case it’s part of a decades-long fight for safety and visibility. The community has repeatedly called for more consistent police patrols, better youth programs, and stronger social interventions to keep children away from gang recruitment.

Social media has been ablaze with frustration. Many are demanding that the accused be denied bail, while others are questioning why it takes tragedy to spark law enforcement action.

One post on X (formerly Twitter) read:

“Westbury has been crying out for years. Maybe now, someone will finally listen.”

Searching for Closure

As the five suspects prepare to stand before the court, Westbury’s families are left clinging to hope that justice will finally prevail. But for the mothers who’ve buried their children, no verdict can undo the pain.

For them, and for the many young people growing up in Westbury, this case is about more than convictions, it’s about reclaiming their right to live without fear.

Thursday’s court proceedings could mark a turning point, not only in the investigation into the Westbury mass shooting, but in the broader fight against gang-driven violence that has long haunted Johannesburg’s western suburbs.

{Source: IOL}

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