An 18-year-old who was shot in the leg and ear during a mass shooting that claimed the lives of two teenagers in Westbury, Johannesburg, has recounted the terrifying moment he and his friends were ambushed in broad daylight.

On Tuesday afternoon, gunmen, believed to be teenagers, opened fire on a group of seven teenagers. Two teenagers were declared deceased on the scene, while five were taken to hospital. 

The incident took place on Croesus Street. 

On Wednesday morning, IOL News visited the scene and spoke to one of the surviving victims. 

“I was shot in my ear and twice in my leg. My friend saw I was shot in the ear, so he tried to protect me. He lay on me, so they shot him dead. They continued shooting at us until their mags were finished.”

The deceased have been identified as 18-year-old Tigan du Plessis and 17-year-old Diegan Ryters.

The teenager said he had returned from the hospital, but is scheduled to return on Monday. 

“I must go back on Monday to the hospital to take the bullet out of my ear. The bullet is still inside.”

He said the group of friends had been sitting on the veranda, joking and chatting, when the gunmen entered the yard and began shooting.

“We were just sitting and speaking, making jokes. We saw people come into the yard, and they started shooting at us. We lay flat on the floor.”

The teenager said this was not the first time the house had been targeted.

“This is the second time they came to shoot at this house,” he said. 

“The first time, they shot the boy who lives here in the leg. He was in the hospital for two weeks.”

He said that the incident occurred around July. “Now, they came back and shot seven of us.”

According to the teen, the same group was behind both shootings.

“This is a big guy. He’s the boss of the Fast Guns (gangs). He sent the younger boys to shoot us because he does not like us. I think he’s maybe 38 or 39 already,” he said.

“I was lucky I was not here the first time. I stay with my mum, but I was here for the holidays.”

He confirmed that he recognised the shooters.

“Yes, we know all the shooters. The one guy is standing over there by the brick house,” he said, pointing out a man standing nearby on the same street.

Asked whether he feared for his life, he said, “Yes, of course I’m fearing for my life. This place is too dangerous. We don’t have mercy here anymore.”

When asked about the motive, the teenager said it was “jealousy.”

“Jealousy, uncle. Jealous of Name-brand clothes. It’s because our parents spoil us. I won’t lie, all of us were such spoiled brats.”

He continued, “We don’t disturb anybody. Now they want to come shoot at us. I don’t know why.”

He expressed heartbreak over the loss of his two friends and called for justice.

“I just want justice for my two friends who died, uncle. Justice must be served.”

Describing his deceased friends, he said, “Funny. The one was always funny. The other one liked to laugh. Friendly with people.”

The teenager said that he dropped out of school last year due to gang-related violence, but hopes to return next year.

“I left school in Grade 10 because of gangsters. They chased us from school. You come from school, walk into the room, and they’re there. I’m planning to go back next year.”

Following the shooting, there was a heightened police presence in the area. 

Police vehicles were seen patrolling the streets, and some community members were visibly shaken by the violence.

Ealier, National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola said crime intelligence, detectives, and uniformed officers were on the ground and actively pursuing the suspects.

He added that he had instructed the Gauteng provincial commissioner to crack down on so-called “lolly lounges” – informal drug dens where schoolchildren allegedly skip school to use drugs.

“We are coming after the owners of these houses and those supplying the drugs,” he said.

Masemola also said authorities are investigating the sources of illegal firearms and how children as young as 13 are accessing them.

“We are aware that older gang members are using children as runners to evade justice. We are indeed focusing on these handlers, and we will find them and hold them accountable for destroying the future of these young children,” he said.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

IOL News

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