Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who is placed on special leave, has bemoaned the fatal shooting that claimed two teenagers dead and five others injured in Westbury, west of Johannesburg, on Tuesday afternoon.
Mchunu was responding to a question on the Westbury incident from one of the panelists at the Parliament’s Ad hoc Committee hearings in Cape Town. Mchunu is appearing before the committee to answer to allegations of corruption in the justice cluster.
He admits that if things were handled differently, incidents like the one that occurred in Westbury should have been prevented.
“This shouldn’t have happened, and it haunts you all the time. Therefore, I feel sorry and say what you are putting across. And I think the main thing is we got over this, the better. There are other ugly scenes and incidents that happened as well. And all of that, we feel they are a let-down to the country.”
Meanwhile, the police have cordoned off Croesus Street in Westbury. According to reports, a group of seven teenagers aged between 14 and 19 was standing outside a home when they were approached by four armed suspects.
The suspects opened fire before fleeing the scene.
The victims were rushed to hospital. Two were declared dead on arrival, while the remaining five continue to receive medical treatment. The police and forensic teams are on the scene, combing for evidence.
Preliminary investigations suggest the shooting may be gang-related, with the suspects believed to be members of a rival gang.
A case of murder and attempted murder has since been opened.
Mchunu admitted that if things were handled differently, incidents like the one that occurred in Westbury should have been prevented.
VIDEO | Deputy Gauteng Police Commissioner briefs media on Westbury shooting:
