Johannesburg – Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia reportedly faced criticism during a visit to Westbury on Saturday after a recent shooting left two people dead, including the mother of a 15-month-old baby who was injured in the attack.
Cachalia said the South African Police Service is investigating the incident and looking at ways to strengthen efforts against gang violence, including boosting resources for the anti-gang unit.
“If we are going to get control of this problem, we have to look at whether the level of resourcing of the anti-gang unit is sufficient.
“That’s a conversation I need to have with the national [police] commissioner,” Cachalia said, according to The Citizen.
Underway: Briefing following the mass shooting in Westbury, Johannesburg, which has since claimed the lives of two people, leaving three others in hospital- including a 15-month old baby. pic.twitter.com/KkmtrzWfzF
— Firoz Cachalia (@Prof_Cachalia) March 7, 2026
The minister also explained that the deployment of the South African National Defence Force to crime-hit areas will take time because soldiers must first undergo specialised training to support police operations.
According to MDN News, he said the military’s role will be to stabilise affected communities and assist law enforcement in tackling organised crime, gang violence and illegal mining, warning that the deployment should not be seen as a “magic bullet” to solve the country’s crime crisis.
SANDF Deployment to Crime Hotspots Will Take Time, Says Cachalia
Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia says the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to crime-ridden areas will take time, as soldiers must first undergo specialised training to understand… pic.twitter.com/EzRZRbRcsF
— MDN NEWS (@MDNnewss) March 7, 2026
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
