Elderly man shot as tensions rise in Westbury - police, protesters face off
1 October 2018
A community member was shot just above the eyebrow after he tried to broker peace between violent protesters and police.
The elderly community leader, who is yet to be identified, was whisked away with a bloody face, caused by a rubber bullet.
A group of protesters threw several rocks at police vans monitoring the volatile situation in Westbury - in on-and-off again stand-offs with police on Monday.
The troubled community took to the streets of Westbury in the early hours of Monday morning protesting high levels of gangsterism and alleged drug dealing in the area.
"The police are trigger happy; that's why this group is throwing rocks. Our protest started peacefully and the situation heightened when the police started shooting and provoking us," Hillary van de Merwe told News 24 on the scene.
A standoff between protesters and police has ensued yet again.
"These people fight for drug corners and innocent people die. We are tired," resident Vanessa Williams told News 24.
Police have not yet confirmed the number of arrests made in Monday's protest.
NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonodwana told News 24 earlier on Monday that the suspect arrested for the murder of a woman last week would make his first appearance at the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on Monday.
He has yet to appear. The unrest continues.
