Cele deploys specialised police officials to crime-riddled Westbury

The launch follows the latest spate of killings in the area that left two people dead and at least nine others wounded.

Cele; who was flanked by his deputy, Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi, Community Safety MEC Faith Mazibuko, and senior provincial and national police officials on a visit to the area on Tuesday; announced the deployment of specialised officers after community members called for an urgent intervention during his visit last week.

Nearly 70 officers from the Johannesburg metro police department, national intervention unit, and tactical response team were deployed to the area on Tuesday and are expected to stabilise Westbury over the next three months. 

“These forces are going to saturate this place. You are going to walk every corner, every passage, knock at every house, you’re going to stop everybody, you’re going to get every gun and you’re going to find every suspect. Those that are armed and take a shot on you, and they create the dust…when the dust settles, I am not going to be picking up your dead bodies,” Cele told officers.

Community members, who took turns addressing the minister, accused local police attached to the Sophiatown police station of colluding with criminals and drug dealers.

“Even as I am standing here, my head is marked because there are people in this room that saw me coming here. Our children are not safe. I have a six-year-old and that child already knows when they are shooting near our house she must lay flat on her stomach,” said one woman who described how her family lives in fear,” said one resident.

Her sentiments were echoed by another community member who only introduced herself as Noereen. She said her son was shot and killed while she was out shopping.

She singled out MEC Mazibuko, saying she had made promises in the past but failed to deliver any of them.

But Premier Lesufi sought to assure community members that the government is resolute on ending criminality.

At the same time, Minister Cele urged the community to work together with law enforcement to protect their safety and freedom of movement.

“If we don’t change our attitude to work together, that space will be occupied by criminals. So, I have instructed the police and I am inviting you that we must work together. There are too many guns here.”