Fear and Frustration in Westbury: Five Accused Remain Behind Bars After Teen Mass Shooting

Westbury’s pain deepens as shooting suspects remain behind bars

The community of Westbury, still reeling from last month’s mass shooting that left two teenagers dead and five others wounded, is once again in the spotlight, this time inside the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court.

Five suspects, aged 17, 19, 20, 20, and 36, appeared briefly in court on Thursday, facing two counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder. The accused are alleged to have ambushed a group of teenagers gathered at a home on 29 October 2025, unleashing a hail of gunfire that turned an ordinary evening into a tragedy that has shaken the tight-knit neighbourhood.

A brutal attack on youth

The victims all young, all local, had gathered for what was meant to be a simple hangout. But in a matter of seconds, the sound of laughter was replaced by gunfire. Two teens lost their lives, while five others were left fighting for theirs in hospital.

Police say the suspects fled immediately after the attack. In the days that followed, one of the accused was reportedly arrested at school, a haunting reminder of how deeply youth are being pulled into violent circles, while the others eventually surrendered to authorities.

Inside the courtroom

During Thursday’s court appearance, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane confirmed that the case remains sensitive, with the identities of the accused withheld for safety and investigative reasons.

Among the five is a 17-year-old minor, who was assessed by social workers and appeared as part of a Preliminary Inquiry (PLI) under the Child Justice Act. The matter was postponed to 11 November 2025 for the outcome of his Legal Aid application before it moves to the Child Justice Court, where he’ll be tried alongside the four adult co-accused.

“The minor remains in a place of safety,” Mjonondwane said. “The four adults are remanded in custody pending their formal bail application, scheduled for 13 November 2025.”

A community on edge

For many Westbury residents, this tragedy feels painfully familiar. The area, long plagued by gang violence and drug turf wars, has seen an uptick in shootings and intimidation in recent months.

Civil group Action Society warned last month that Westbury risks becoming Johannesburg’s version of the Cape Flats, a place where fear silences witnesses, and community trust erodes with every bullet fired.

“Just as in the Cape Flats, there’s a developing culture of silence and fear,” said Action Society spokesperson Juanita du Preez. “Residents say they know who the criminals are, but they fear reprisals or feel that the state is absent.”

A neighbourhood caught between hope and helplessness

Westbury’s residents, many of whom have lived through decades of gang-related violence, say they are tired of seeing young lives lost with little accountability. Churches and local leaders have called for increased police visibility, youth programs, and community rehabilitation efforts to break the cycle.

On social media, locals expressed heartbreak and anger, not just at the crime itself, but at how easily young people are drawn into violent lifestyles. One user wrote, “How many more funerals must we have before something changes?” Another posted, “We’re raising children in a war zone, and nobody seems to care.”

As the five accused await their next court appearances, Westbury continues to grapple with grief and frustration. The tragedy has reignited conversations about youth vulnerability, gang recruitment, and the lack of sustained state intervention in historically neglected communities.

While justice slowly winds its way through the courts, residents say they are desperate for more than arrests, they want change that reaches the roots of the problem.

“We don’t just want to see people jailed,” said one community elder outside court. “We want to see our children live long enough to have futures.”

The Westbury shooting isn’t just another line in a police report, it’s a symptom of something deeper. A generation of young people growing up amid poverty, unemployment, and fear, where the line between victim and perpetrator keeps blurring.

Until those conditions change, tragedies like the one on 29 October may continue to cast long shadows over Johannesburg’s western suburbs.

{Source: The Citizen}

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