Westbury Residents Speak Out Over Exclusion From Police Ministry Talks

A wave of frustration rippled through the community of Westbury this week after several residents claimed they were excluded from high-level Police Ministry meetings aimed at tackling the area’s ongoing gang violence.

Police Ministry Meets With Local Leaders

Acting Minister of Police Firoz Chalia, together with senior South African Police Service (SAPS) officials, met with selected community representatives in Sophiatown on Monday. The engagement was part of government’s ongoing effort to address the violent gang-related crime that has left parts of Westbury and Reiger Park on edge.

But for some residents, the talks felt incomplete. They argue that only a handful of voices were invited into the roomleaving out activists and long-standing community figures who have been working on the frontlines of the crisis for years.

Community Leaders Feel Left Out

West Rand community leader Eugene Dooms said he was blindsided by the meeting’s announcement.

“I only found out this morning when I saw it on the news,” he told reporters. “As community leaders, we should’ve been informed. We’re the ones living with this problem every day, and we have practical ideas that could help fix it.”

His comments reflect a wider sentiment among residents who feel disconnected from formal channels of engagement, even as crime in their area continues to claim lives.

Ongoing Violence And Rising Tensions

The outcry follows weeks of bloodshed in Westbury and neighbouring Reiger Park, where at least eight people have been killed in suspected gang-related shootings. Last month, a chilling incident involving six teenagers further intensified calls for stronger police intervention and social reform.

Locals say that while the presence of national police officials is encouraging, real change depends on consistent community collaboration and transparent dialogue. “We don’t need politicians popping in for a day,” said one resident on social media. “We need action that lasts.”

A Community Caught Between Fear And Hope

For many in Westbury, the exclusion controversy is symbolic of a deeper struggle for recognition. The suburb, long marked by socio-economic inequality and generational crime cycles, has become a flashpoint for debates about policing, trust, and government accountability.

As the Police Ministry’s meetings continue, residents hope future engagements will include a broader range of voicesespecially those who know the pain and reality of Westbury’s streets first-hand.

Because in communities like these, safety isn’t just a policy goalit’s personal.

{Source:EWN}

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