JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s top police official has issued a warning about the alarming recruitment of children into gang activities, following a deadly incident in Westbury, Johannesburg, that left two teenagers dead, highlighting the growing use of minors as criminal operatives.
National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, expressed deep concern this week about children aged 13 to 17 being systematically recruited by gang leaders to serve as runners and carry out criminal activities across the country.
“What is of concern and quite disturbing is the involvement of children in gang-related activities,” Masemola said during a media briefing on ongoing gang violence. “This is a disturbing trend that we have picked up in various parts of the country.”
The latest incident claimed the lives of two victims aged 17 and 19, also leaving another five youngsters injured. According to reports, the group of boys were ambushed by suspects believed to be from a rival gang. The police have launched a manhunt for four suspects.
Justice system challenges
Masemola highlighted significant obstacles in prosecuting juvenile offenders, describing an “uphill battle” where cases involving minors are frequently withdrawn from court proceedings. Instead, young offenders are typically referred to diversion programs involving counselling and community service.
“We will surely win this war, but such a war can only be fought if parents and guardians come on board,” Masemola said, noting that all the children involved should have been in classrooms rather than engaging in criminal activities.
The police chief particularly criticised a homeowner – identified as the mother of one of the boys involved in the recent fatal incident – questioning how she allowed young children to become involved in gambling and smoking activities instead of attending school.
Community resistance hampering police work
Despite deploying specialised anti-gang units across eight Gauteng communities, including Westbury, Eldorado Park, Toekomsrus, Langlaagte, Reiger Park, and Nigel, police face unexpected resistance from the very communities they aim to protect.
“Unfortunately, it has happened several times that police were attacked by the very same community of Westbury,” Masemola revealed. “In all incidents, police were attacked while arresting suspects that were found in possession of drugs and some illegal firearms.”
This year alone, the anti-gang unit has arrested 19 gang members in Westbury for possession of illegal firearms, drugs, and involvement in gang-related murders. Of these, 11 have been successfully convicted and sentenced to prison terms.
Call for parental responsibility
Throughout his remarks, Masemola repeatedly emphasised the crucial role of family units in combating gang recruitment, stating that discipline and monitoring must begin at home.
“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,” he stressed.
The Commissioner will be visiting Westbury this week, beginning at Sophiatown Police Station before monitoring deployments throughout the area. He expressed confidence that the four teenage perpetrators currently being sought would be apprehended.
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