In the wake of Tuesday’s suspected gang-related shooting in Westbury, which left two teenagers dead and five others wounded, the United Democratic Movement (UDM) has drawn parallels to the escalating violence in Alexandra township, calling for immediate intervention, and demanding that Johannesburg’s gun crisis be treated as a national emergency.

Read more: Alexandra’s escalating gun violence prompts calls for unity and co-operation

UDM councillor in Johannesburg Yongama Zigebe condemned the Westbury tragedy. He said that it exposes the depth of violent crime gripping the city, while also pointed to Alexandra’s gun violence, emphasising that it has become a common occurrence.

His remarks come after reports of multiple shootings in Alexandra, including the shooting of business owners, community leaders, and a community safety official – all in separate incidents. “Families are burying loved ones, children are dying in the crossfire, and the sound of gunfire has become an unbearable soundtrack of daily life.” He added that a wave of shootings over the past three months has turned the city into a war zone.

Also read: I heard the gunshots as they finished him – Thabo Mahane

While gang-related violence among youth has recently been associated with Westbury, Alexandra is witnessing a troubling rise of youth-on-youth aggression, particularly in and around schools.
Just on Tuesday, reports emerged that a group of teenagers from Minerva High School were heading to Alexandra High School to allegedly incite violence. However, their alleged plan was interrupted when police swiftly arrived on the scene. This, coupled with the recent incident of a Grade 9 learner from Alexandra High who was allegedly assaulted by her peer a few days earlier, adds to the growing pattern of youth-on-youth aggression in the township.

Zigebe argued that the waves of violence in Westbury and Alexandra reflect deeper systemic failures. He called on the departments of Basic Education, Social Development, and the Police to implement community-based rehabilitation programmes, aimed at saving learners from cycles of violence and possible incarceration. “The time for excuses has passed. We expect intensified anti-gang and firearm recovery operations that focus on hotspots, such as Westbury, Alexandra, Eldorado Park, and Hillbrow.”
In addition, Zigebe urged the rollout of youth rehabilitation and anti-substance abuse programmes, to steer young people away from criminal networks and restore safety in schools and communities.

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