Protests erupted in the area last week after 45-year-old Heather Peterson was killed during a shootout between three men. He daughter‚ 10‚ was wounded in the incident.
Residents vowed to shut down the area and called on government to deploy the army to clean up the area. The community accused the local police of corruption‚ alleging that they had colluded with criminals in the area.
When Cele visited the area on Tuesday‚ he said police had arrested two men in connection with the earlier shooting of Peterson. Two other suspects were at large.
"We commit ourselves to coming back to work on the matters the community have raised. We will ask other departments to be part of the meeting next week so you can raise the matters‚" he said.
Following his visit‚ some community members began cleaning up the streets. Police spokesperson Kay Makhubele said on Wednesday: "Police were alerted about gunshot sounds in the area. Police rushed there and found empty cartridges on the ground. No one was on the scene‚ however a case of attempted murder was opened."
Times Select painted a picture of life in the suburb in an article on Wednesday that described how primary school children greeted each other by asking: "Which gang do you belong to? Are you part of the Fast Guns or Varados?"
Bheki Cele to reveal the antidote to gang violence in Westbury
Image: Masi Losi
Police minister Bheki Cele returns to crime-ridden Westbury in Johannesburg on Thursday as residents continue to call for drastic measures to curb the scourge of drugs and gangs in the suburb.
Cele will be joined by national police commissioner General Khehla Sitole.
"[They will] officially parade the newly and permanently deployed Tactical Response Team (TRT) [known as Amaberete]‚ dedicated to the Westbury policing precinct as part of the broader strategy to fight the scourge of drugs and gang-related violence in the area‚" Cele's office said in a statement.
"The visit is pursuant to the commitment made on Tuesday in which the minister had a community engagement with members of the community of Westbury following incidents of gang-related violence and subsequent community unrest."
Bheki Cele promises action in crime-plagued Westbury
Protests erupted in the area last week after 45-year-old Heather Peterson was killed during a shootout between three men. He daughter‚ 10‚ was wounded in the incident.
Residents vowed to shut down the area and called on government to deploy the army to clean up the area. The community accused the local police of corruption‚ alleging that they had colluded with criminals in the area.
When Cele visited the area on Tuesday‚ he said police had arrested two men in connection with the earlier shooting of Peterson. Two other suspects were at large.
"We commit ourselves to coming back to work on the matters the community have raised. We will ask other departments to be part of the meeting next week so you can raise the matters‚" he said.
Following his visit‚ some community members began cleaning up the streets. Police spokesperson Kay Makhubele said on Wednesday: "Police were alerted about gunshot sounds in the area. Police rushed there and found empty cartridges on the ground. No one was on the scene‚ however a case of attempted murder was opened."
Times Select painted a picture of life in the suburb in an article on Wednesday that described how primary school children greeted each other by asking: "Which gang do you belong to? Are you part of the Fast Guns or Varados?"
Police Minister Bheki Cele had a meeting with the protesting community of Westbury on Tuesday October 2 2018, where he gave community members the opportunity to air their grievances, and propose solutions as well.
READ MORE:
'Castrate them and amputate their hands‚' Westbury resident tells Bheki Cele
Westbury community say 'enough is enough'
Police raid Westbury 'drug den' as residents mourn
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