Residents of Westbury in Johannesburg are demanding the immediate deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) following a deadly shooting this week that claimed two lives and left three others wounded.
The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon when gunmen opened fire on a group at the corner of Lark Spur Court and Jacaranda Court. Among the victims was 19-year-old Reece Oliphant, who was shot multiple times while on his way home with friends. He was rushed to hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival. The other fatality was an adult woman, the mother of a 15-month-old baby who was also among the wounded. The remaining victims survived their injuries.
The Oliphant family described Reece as a peaceful, quiet young man with no involvement in gangsterism. He had completed his matric the previous year and had already begun entrepreneurial work, partnering with his father in a small business. Family members emphasized that he was a role model to his friends and brothers, and they rejected any suggestion that the shooting was gang-related in his case. Fazel Karim, Reece’s grandfather, recounted the harrowing moment his sister called to inform him that Reece had been shot five times—in the head, neck, back, and arms. Initially, there was hope as Reece was breathing on his own with a stable heartbeat, but he did not survive.
Karim described the attack as random and senseless, noting that if it were gang-related, it would involve gangs targeting each other—not innocents like Reece or a woman holding a baby. He expressed deep frustration with the ongoing violence in the area, stating that residents feel unsafe even in their own homes. He criticized the slow pace of investigations, where cases go quiet after initial attention and no arrests follow. Regarding the potential deployment of the SANDF, Karim questioned the need for additional training for soldiers, arguing that Westbury is effectively a war zone and soldiers should be deployed immediately to address the crisis, as combating crime is primarily the responsibility of the police.
Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia visited Westbury recently and spoke to the media about plans to deploy the SANDF. However, he indicated that the defence force is not yet ready for the task, as they require training on policing duties—work typically handled by the South African Police Service (SAPS)—since the SANDF is primarily a defence-oriented force. Residents and the grieving family have expressed limited faith in the current police response, with calls growing for more decisive action amid repeated incidents of gang violence and criminal activity in the community.
A candlelit memorial service was planned for later in the evening to honour Reece and remember what he stood for. The community continues to live in fear, with many feeling that ordinary people are caught in the crossfire of unchecked violence. Police investigations into the shooting remain ongoing, with no arrests reported at this stage.
