Sophiatown police put on notice by Westbury community
With murders happening weekly, four in the last few days alone, the community has reached boiling point due to a lack of urgency by police.
The community of Westbury spent two days peacefully but determinedly at the Sophiatown Police Station to demand police action to prevent alarmingly high numbers of murders in the area.
In the past few days, four men have been gunned down in the suburb that is rife with gang violence and drug-related crimes.
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Mathews Booysen, father of slain Shanon (39) who was killed the day before the protest said, “My boy was so humble, he loved people and had four children. He was not a gangster, he did not do drugs. I can’t understand why people felt he didn’t deserve to live. The killers walk free and know they are free. We cry and demand a reshuffle at this police station because there are so many shootings, every week. The police don’t care and now my son is dead.”
Sophiatown police spokesperson Captain TJ de Bruyn said, “One man was shot after witnesses saw three men approach him and start shooting. It is believed this is linked to a case the day before where a woman was shot in the leg. Witnesses say a second man was killed after being shot in the back when running for cover from shots being fired in the street.”
Sophiatown CPF chair Gus Malgas said, “The community demands higher levels of police visibility and action in Westbury. A list of grievances was handed to General Max Masha overnight. They call for more police presence in the area and an end to police corruption.”
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Jefferson Johnson, a community member said, “Westbury has become a war zone, we have lost so many people and we don’t get any answers to deaths by shootings and we don’t hear of any convictions.”
Melisa Davids, a youth activist, said the reason they have activated is because they are tired of being neglected by the police. “We are tired of blood on our streets. We cry out to God to help us.”
ALSO READ: Two murders in one day shock community of Westbury
Gauteng Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela addressed the group following a night of unrest. “In this community, last month there were six gang-related murders and attempted murders. It is too much. I want to assure this community that we have our head of organised crime in the province who is prioritising these cases to be resolved as fast as possible.”
Mawela appealed to the community to work with police to tackle crime. He suggested whistleblowers need to be protected. He promised to give the community weekly updates on cases, feedback on convictions and other intelligence.
A community member who would not be named said, “It remains to be seen if action will be taken in a meaningful way unlike in the past when police swoop in to quell community unrest and leave with nothing resolved.”
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