Residents of Westbury, west of Johannesburg, told a community engagement this week that relentless gang violence and deepening distrust of the police have left many confined to their homes and fearful for their children.
Community raises concerns at provincial public hearing
The complaints were made during a Gun Free South Africa dialogue attended by the Gauteng provincial legislature portfolio committee on community safety. Community members said two rival groups — known locally as the Varados and the Fast Guns — are responsible for sustained shootings, robberies and other violent crime in the area.
Speakers described years of broken promises from authorities and what they say is a lack of visible, effective policing. Several residents said the criminal justice system had failed families of victims and left witnesses exposed to threats.
"I want to leave this area but I can't afford to leave. I have kids and I can't imagine how I would feel if my child was killed in a crossfire of gang violence,"
That plea came from a resident identified as Amilio, who said he was aware of more than 20 people killed in Westbury, including a nine-year-old and a four-year-old who died in crossfire. Family members who lost children described long waits for accountability and what they view as inadequate police responses.
Allegations of police inaction and collusion
Several speakers accused police at local stations of indifference. One woman whose son was murdered said she had been threatened by a witness and that officers at Sophiatown police station had failed to act. Residents said this, combined with alleged collusion between officers and criminals, had discouraged reporting.
Bevan Shelton, a community member, told the meeting the belief that police know the identities of drug and gun dealers but are unwilling to pursue them was widespread. "They have little interest in tackling the problem," he said, according to the reporting.
Another resident, Eugine Dooms, described how crime had transformed public spaces. He said the stadium in front of a police station had been ransacked and that fear keeps people from mobilising. "When you say come march, they always say no. Because literally every third house, it's either a smoker, a dealer or a gangster," he said.
- Groups implicated: Varados and Fast Guns
- Reported fatalities: More than 20 people, including a nine-year-old and a four-year-old (as cited by a resident)
- Main concerns: Gang shootings, drug dealing, threats to witnesses, alleged police inaction or collusion
Consequences for the community and policing
Residents said the combined effect of violence and perceived police failure has practical consequences: children kept at home, reluctance to report crimes, and weakened community cooperation with law enforcement. Mothers who have lost children highlighted the emotional toll of unresolved cases and threats against those who press for arrests.
The matter was raised in a public safety forum convened to hear community grievances. The reporting does not include responses from the South African Police Service or statements from provincial officials. Further developments — including any official steps by the portfolio committee or SAPS inquiries — were not reported at the time of the engagement.
| Issue | Community account |
|---|---|
| Scale of violence | More than 20 killed; children among victims |
| Public safety | Residents confined to homes; public spaces avoided |
| Policing concerns | Alleged inaction, witness intimidation, claimed collusion |
At the hearing, community voices called for urgent, sustained interventions to break cycles of violence, protect witnesses and restore trust in policing. The issues raised in Westbury reflect larger questions about urban crime, community policing and accountability that provincial and national authorities continue to face.
More details may follow as the Gauteng portfolio committee and SAPS respond to the grievances aired at the Gun Free South Africa engagement.
