Westbury gang violence claims two lives on day one of final exams

Two teenagers were shot and killed while five others are fighting for their lives in hospital following a suspected gang related shooting in Westbury, Johannesburg. The incident occurred on the first day of the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations.

According to reports, the shooting happened at around 1pm on Creseoes Street when a group of teenagers, aged between 14 and 19 years, were attacked by a group of armed suspects. The police in Sophiatown responded swiftly to the scene and found victims with gunshot wounds. Two were declared dead on arrival at hospital, while four others were admitted for medical treatment. Later updates confirmed that the total number of victims had risen to seven.

Preliminary information suggests that the shooting was gang related. Police believe the suspects are members of a rival gang. The Provincial Anti Gang Unit and SAPS Forensic Services were deployed to the scene, while District Crime Intelligence joined the investigation to help trace the suspects.

Gauteng SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili confirmed that police have launched an intensive manhunt for the gunmen. Acting Gauteng Police Commissioner Fred Kekana said officers have identified some of the suspects and are following leads to bring them to justice.

“We do know who they are, their parents, their addresses, three of them, the fourth one we do not know. As we speak, the team is currently following them because for obvious reasons they did not go back to their homes. We also have video footage of their faces when they came and left the scene. As soon as the team succeeds in locating them, we are going to make sure they face justice,” said Kekana.

Witnesses at the scene told journalists that the violence involved two local gangs known as the Fast Guns and the Varados. The motive for the shooting has not yet been confirmed and remains under investigation.

Pathology services and forensic teams spent several hours combing the area for evidence. Bullet casings were recovered from the scene as police cordoned off sections of the street. Residents of Westbury gathered nearby, expressing shock as emergency services transported the victims to nearby hospitals.

Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube announced earlier on Monday that a total of 903,561 candidates are registered to write this year’s examinations, including 766,543 full time and 137,018 part time candidates.

When asked if there were any disruptions to the examinations in the area following the incident, the spokesperson for the Department of Basic Education said they would provide an update later.

On social media, South Africans reacted with concern and frustration over the persistent gang related violence in Westbury. One user on platform X wrote, “Westbury shooting, I’m still saying that the Anti Gang Unit is not equipped enough for this, deploy the NIU like they did in iNanda KwaZulu Natal. And give it a month.” Another user shared an experience of being mugged in the same area last year, saying, “Westbury gangs shooting each other and imagine that they are between 13 to 19 years of age. Last year I was mugged there, the boy who pointed a firearm at me was about 15 years old.”

The police have urged anyone with information on the whereabouts of the suspects to contact their nearest police station or call the Crime Stop number anonymously.

Police said they are intensifying their search for the four suspects linked to the shooting.

This is a developing story.