National police commissioner General Fannie Masemola has expressed concern over children being used as ‘runners’ in gang-related activities following a mass shooting in Westbury, Johannesburg, that left two teenagers dead. 

The shooting incident took place on Tuesday on Croesus Street at 1 pm. Five other teenagers were shot and are recovering in the hospital. 

Masemola is expected to visit the area on Wednesday morning. No suspects have been arrested. 

Police said the seven teenagers, aged between 13 and 19, were approached by four suspects on foot, three of whom were armed, before being shot.

Masemola said he has received a briefing from the management of Gauteng on ongoing gang-related violence in Westbury.

He said, “Forming part our meeting was the Provincial Commissioner of Gauteng, the Deputy Provincial Commissioner responsible for Policing, the Acting Divisional Commissioner of Detectives and Forensic Services, the Acting Divisional Commissioner of Crime Intelligence, the head of the Anti-Gang Unit in Gauteng and head office, head of Organised Crime in the province amongst others.”

The top cop said it was concerning and disturbing over the involvement of children in gang related activities.

“This is a disturbing trend that we have picked up in various parts of the country that young children as young as 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 are being used as runners by older gang members and leaders,” Masemola said.

He said they are being recruited at a very young age and are doing the dirty work for older members of these gangs.

“It is indeed a concerning trend that when police arrest these young gang members, you will find that many of these cases are withdrawn at court because the perpetrators are minors and they are then referred for diversion programmes, where they will be referred for counselling and then community services for example – we are indeed fighting an uphill battle.”

Masemola said they will surely win this war, but such a war can only be fought if parents and guardians come on board.

“Like I indicated earlier, all these children are school going age and should have been in a classroom being taught by their teachers.

“It has been established that the two deceased are 17 and 19 years of age and the rest of the survivors are under 19 years of age with the youngest being 13.”

“We are also engaging the home owner to question this individual who is the mother of one of the boys, as to how she allows young children to get involved in such activities when they should have been in a classroom.”

He added, “It cannot allow a situation where young children are involved in gambling activities and are found to be smoking at this tender age.

“Indeed the family unit plays an important role to assist the work of the police. It must start at home where parents and guardians do their part in instilling discipline and in monitoring their children.”

Masemola said Westbury forms part of eight communities in Gauteng where police have deployed the anti-gang unit. These include Eldorado Park, Toekomsrus, Langlaagte, Reiger Park and Nigel, among others.

“We continue to reinforce capacity in terms of more boots on the ground and resources to heighten police visibility as a form of deterrence.”

But, he said, it has happened several times that police were attacked by the very same community of Westbury.

“In all incidents, police were attacked while effecting arrests of suspects that were found in possession of drugs and some illegal firearms. It is a challenge where some communities are found to be shielding gangsters.”

He said he has received a briefing from the anti-gang unit and, from January to date, there have been 19 gangsters arrested in Westbury alone. 

Masemola said these were gang members who were found in possession of illegal firearms, drugs, and arrested for their involvement in gang-related murders.

“During the same period, 11 gangsters were also sentenced to time in prison for gang-related activities.”

“I am encouraged that the anti-gang unit is meeting weekly with the provincial commissioner and that there is a plan in place to prevent and combat gang-related activities – we just require the support of the community and the parents that must report wrongdoing to the police,” he said.

“We are continuously enhancing our strategies and plans to adjust to crime patterns and we are certain that with the support of all key stakeholders including the community members and parents, we will surely get it right. I repeat – parents must play a part in assisting us to put a stop to gang-related activities.”

He said he will be visiting the Westbury area on Wednesday morning, with the visit set to start at the Sophiatown Police Station and include monitoring deployments in the area.

“We know who we are looking for and we are confident that we will find these perpetrators who are believed to be four teenagers,” Masemola added.

This comes after Gauteng deputy provincial police commissioner Major General Fred Kekana confirmed on Tuesday afternoon, during a media briefing in the area, that three of the four suspects involved in the mass shooting are known to police.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

IOL News

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