Johannesburg - Fed-up residents of Westbury in Johannesburg have once again taken to the streets to protest against spiralling crime and gangsterism which has paralysed the area.
Early on Monday parts of the suburb were blocked off and there was a strong police presence as the smell of burning tyres permeated the air.
The latest protest comes after a woman was killed by a stray bullet on Thursday, believed to be from an exchange of gunfire in an escalating gang turf war in the area. Her 10-year-old daughter was also wounded during the incident.
Drugs are believed to be the main reason for the turf war, as rival gangs battle for control of the trade in Cat, cheap heroin, crack cocaine and pure cocaine.
— D-Boy Davis (@DboyDavis20) October 1, 2018
There have been rumours that gangs are "importing" hitmen from the Cape Flats to get rid of their enemies.
#Westbury #WestburyShutdown continues this week, the community are weary of mourning innocent lives lost in the crossfire caused by drug lords fighting over territory #DeclareMarshallLaw pic.twitter.com/d5lV93m6B5
— Lauren Smith🍒 (@Pheoniqx) September 30, 2018
On Monday morning many people on social media blamed poor policing for the escalation of the violence in the suburb, and a number of commenters said the army should have been deployed to quell the violence a long time ago.
* This is a developing story.