GOOD Statement by Matthew Cook, GOOD National Chairperson and PR Councillor in the City of Johannesburg:
GOOD is calling on the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Dada Morero, to urgently intervene in the escalating gang violence in Westbury, Johannesburg, following multiple shootings reported yesterday, including the tragic shooting of a child.
For residents of Westbury, these incidents are not isolated events. Communities have been living with persistent gang activity, drug trafficking, and illegal firearms for years. Each new shooting simply confirms what residents already know: government responses have been reactive, fragmented, and insufficient.
When children are caught in the crossfire in their own neighbourhoods, it is a sign that the state has lost its grip on safety in that community. The City cannot simply wait for the next shooting before responding.
GOOD believes that gang violence does not emerge in a vacuum. It grows in communities where there is long-term neglect, high unemployment, poor urban management, and limited opportunities for young people. If the City is serious about addressing the crisis in Westbury, it must recognise that gang violence is not only a policing issue, it is also a governance and development issue.
Gang activity flourishes where public spaces are neglected. The City must strengthen urban management through improved street lighting, CCTV coverage, maintenance of public spaces, and visible law-enforcement patrols.
Youth in communities like Westbury are often recruited into gangs because there are few viable alternatives. Investment in youth programmes, sport, skills development, and local economic opportunities is essential to break this cycle.
Residents, schools, faith organisations, and community groups are often the first line of defence against gangs. The City must actively support and partner with these structures instead of leaving communities to face violence alone.
Westbury residents have been raising concerns about gang violence for years. They should not have to wait for another child to be shot before the government responds. Mayor Morero must now step in and ensure that the full weight of government is put behind this crisis.
Communities like Westbury deserve safety, opportunity, and a government that acts before tragedy strikes, not after.
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