Johannesburg – An 18-year-old teen shot in the leg and ear during a mass shooting in Westbury, Johannesburg, says he has not yet had the bullets removed and continues to experience severe pain and fear for his safety.
The attack on October 21, 2025, left two teenagers dead — 18-year-old Tigan du Plessis and 17-year-old Diegan Ryters — and injured five others.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili said in a statementat the time that officers from the Sophiatown police station responded to the scene after being informed of a shooting in the area.
“Preliminary reports suggest that the shooting was gang related.
“It is reported that the six, aged between 14 and 19 years, were shot at by three suspects believed to be from a rival gang,” he said.
The victims were rushed to the hospital
“Two of them were declared dead on arrival, and four are receiving medical attention,” said Muridili.
[BREAKING NEWS] Two teenagers have been shot dead and four others wounded in a mass shooting in Westbury, Johannesburg. The six victims were aged between 14 and 19. pic.twitter.com/bMNeyD3Enp
— eNCA (@eNCA) October 21, 2025
According to IOL, the 18-year-old survivor claims the shooting was ordered by the leader of the “Fast Guns” gang, who allegedly sent younger members to target them over jealousy of their clothing brands.
“The bullet is still here. It’s so painful, I am even struggling to sleep at night because of the pain. I will go to the hospital next week to have it removed,” the report quoted him as saying.
The teenager added: “I am even scared to go outside because of that incident. We are scared that something might happen to me again,” he said.
“He sent the younger boys to shoot us because he does not like us.
#sapsGP Anti-Gang Unit arrests a 20-year-old suspect in connection with Westbury double murder and attempted murder case. On Wednesday, 29/10 members of the #AntiGangUnit (AGU) received crucial information from the Crime Intelligence Unit regarding the location of one of the… pic.twitter.com/u1caFX0YLe
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) October 30, 2025
“He stays about two houses away from where we were shot – on the same street. We know him, we know that he’s the one who sent those boys to shoot us because they are jealous of the clothing brands we wear.”
He insists he has no gang involvement.
A 36-year-old man, believed to be the gang leader behind the attack, was arrested in Westbury and faces two counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder.
LISTEN: The man suspected to be the mastermind behind the recent Westbury shooting will reappear in court on Thursday for a bail application.
The 36-year-old was arrested on Friday by members of the Gauteng Anti-Gang Unit.
The arrest comes days after a group of gunmen killed… pic.twitter.com/PVSPfGb4pO
— POWER987News (@POWER987News) November 3, 2025
A 20-year-old has also been arrested.
Investigations are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects.
The court has postponed the alleged mastermind’s case to Thursday for a formal bail hearing.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
