Violence Flares in Westbury: Masemola Calls on Community to Back Anti-Gang Police Unit

In the heart of Westbury, a neighbourhood long plagued by gang violence and drug crime, a troubling scene unfolded recently that speaks volumes about the complicated relationship between police and the community they serve. Members of the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) Anti-Gang Unit, deployed specifically to tackle the gang problem in the area, found themselves under attack — not from criminals, but from the very people they’re trying to protect.

Rocks and Bottles Against the Law

It all began on a seemingly routine patrol along Steytler Street. Police had detained a suspect found with illegal drugs, a small but crucial victory in the ongoing war against drug dealers and gangsters who terrorise Westbury’s residents. But instead of gratitude or cooperation, officers were met with hostility. Community members, frustrated and fearful, began pelting them with rocks and bottles, forcing a tactical withdrawal for safety.

This violent backlash has left many scratching their heads. Why would a community fighting high crime turn against the very agents trying to restore order?

Masemola’s Plea: Support, Not Strikes

General Fannie Masemola, National Commissioner of SAPS, voiced his frustration clearly. “Westbury’s people complain about crime daily,” he said, “yet when we act, we get stones thrown at us.” His message was direct — the police cannot do this alone, and attacking officers only emboldens the gangs to continue their reign of terror.

Masemola’s call for solidarity is not just about law enforcement. It’s about healing a fractured trust between police and communities that have historically been left vulnerable. In areas like Westbury, where gang wars have torn through families and futures, cooperation with law enforcement is the only way forward — yet fear, mistrust, and sometimes misinformation complicate this fragile relationship.

On the Ground: The Voice of the Anti-Gang Unit

Sergeant Roxanne Gib, spokesperson for the Anti-Gang Unit, echoed these sentiments. “We are here for the community. Our job is to stop the violence and the drug trade that ruins lives. When people attack us, it doesn’t just put us in danger — it allows criminals to roam free,” she explained. Gib’s words underscore a painful reality: attacks on police are attacks on the safety of every resident.

Understanding the Roots: Why the Backlash?

Westbury’s struggle with gang violence isn’t new. Generations have grown up with stories of turf wars and drug lords controlling streets. In some cases, fear of reprisals from gangs discourages community members from cooperating with police. Add to this the history of police mistrust, sometimes justified by overreach or brutality in law enforcement, and you get a volatile mix.

Social media has been buzzing with mixed reactions. Some residents express sympathy for the police and call for calm, while others voice deep skepticism about police motives and tactics, citing past abuses or corruption scandals. This divide highlights a broader issue beyond Westbury — South Africa’s ongoing challenge of building effective, trusted policing in high-crime areas.

A Call for Community-Police Partnership

What Westbury needs now, many say, is a new chapter of mutual respect and partnership. Crime cannot be fought by police alone, nor by residents in isolation. Only together can they begin to reclaim their streets.

Masemola’s firm stance that “lawlessness will not be tolerated” comes with a challenge: police must also engage with communities in a way that rebuilds trust. Without that, incidents like the attack on the Anti-Gang Unit risk becoming all too common, leaving Westbury’s future hanging in the balance.

Westbury is a community at a crossroads. Will residents and police unite against a common enemy — violent gangs and drug dealers? Or will fear and mistrust keep them divided, leaving the streets to chaos? The answer will shape not just Westbury, but the broader fight against crime across South Africa.

{Source: IOL}

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