Police Minister Bheki Cele says additional SAPS members have been deployed in Westbury to make the area uncomfortable for criminals to operate. Cele announced this during the Ministerial Crime Prevention Imbizo in Westbury, Johannesburg On Tuesday. Cele was accompanied by his deputy Cassel Mathale, premier Panyaza Lusufi, Community Safety MEC Faith Mazibuko, Mayor Thapelo Amad and other leaders from various law enforcement agencies.

CONSTANT FEAR

 Community members who were visibly frustrated and fearful pleaded with Cele to make sure that Westbury is a safe place to live and raise children. They complained that the gangs have infiltrated schools and children as young as 15 are smoking and dealing with drugs. A learner who is a member of the student representative council and a matriculant Oreeditse Sebe (18), expressed how she lives in constant fear. She said making her way to school was frustrating because she feared not reaching her destination. Oreeditse said she was in matric and the only thing that's supposed to be worrying her is passing her grade. 

"I agree with the community that all of us are scared. I am scared. Waking up is like, will I be shot today. What if today is the last day I see my mother? This is not what a teenager should be thinking about. I'm in matric, I'm supposed to be thinking about passing my grade,' she said.

GANG VIOLENCE

The shootings in the area started on Thursday 23 February when an alleged gang boss, Keenan Sheldon Ebrahim, was shot dead in Florida. Since his murder, Noordgesig, Eldorado Park, Riverlea and Westbury residents were living in fear of getting caught in the crossfire. Sixteen people were injured while two lost their lives in the shootings between rival gangs.

ENSURING WOMEN AND CHILDREN ARE SAFE

Cele said these officers must ensure that women and children are and feel safe in their homes and on the streets of Westbury. He said in three months they will go back to the area and assess the situation to see if some of the interventions are implemented. "We are not here to be part of the shebeens here, we are not part of running drugs here, we are not here to be friends with drug lords here, it's okay to arrest those people that run drugs but make sure drug lords are arrested. Make sure that drug lords are thrown into prison, people that die here are killed by illegal firearms, I want to see those illegal firearms, go out and find them. Once you create trust with the community, they will give you the information, they will tell you are the people who are running drugs here and who own these guns and all the criminals. Don't betray the goodwill of the community, work with that community," said Cele. 

Cele said the officers will remain in the area and work around the clock day and night.