- Fear has tightened its grip on Westbury after the killing of a suspected Fast Guns gang leader.
- Some residents have reportedly resorted to locking themselves in their homes.
- Gauteng police say they have intensified their visibility in the area.
Westbury township in Johannesburg remains tense following the murder of the alleged leader of the Fast Guns gang.
Keenen Sheldon Ebrahim was shot in a suspected hit while travelling in a white Mercedes-Benz sedan in Florida on Thursday.
On Friday, Westbury ward councillor Chahracan Amod said the township was tense amid its infamous gang and drug wars.
"The mood is agitated. People have locked themselves indoors. You can feel the tenseness in the area. It is affecting schools and everything. What is happening is beyond the community's control.
"My heart goes out to SAPS in the area. Police are visible in the area. They are patrolling the streets of Westbury. The police can't be all over. Unfortunately, this (the gang war) is happening. For their safety, they (residents) must stay off the streets and remain indoors.
"I don't know what the next five minutes or the day will hold. I don't know what the day holds. This (gang war) has been going on for too long. I can't guarantee safety. They must be safe rather than sorry. I am not aware of any funeral planned for the weekend."
Amod said residents should be moving freely without the fear that they could be the next victim. He added that he couldn't prevent people from attending the funerals of victims of the gang wars which were planned for this weekend.
He said:
Amod pleaded with police to increase their visibility in Westbury.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo claimed that police visibility in Westbury and other areas regarded as hotspots had been intensified following recent suspected gang killings.
On the latest killing, Masondo said police had opened a case of murder.
"Police are searching for suspects after a 38-year-old man was shot while driving in Florida on 23 February (Thursday) at approximately 15:50. The man was driving a white Mercedes-Benz in William Nicol Drive when he was shot by unknown suspects in a silver Jetta 6.
"The driver lost control of his vehicle and the vehicle hit the pavement. Paramedics took the victim to the nearest medical care centre, where he was declared dead," said Masondo.