‘The bullet is still in my ear’ : Teen surviving Westbury shooting struggles with pain and fear

An 18-year-old who was shot in the leg and right ear during a mass shooting that claimed the lives of two teenagers in Westbury, Johannesburg, says he has not yet had the bullet removed and has been struggling with pain since the shooting.

IOL News previously reported that the teenage boy, who cannot be named, was shot twice in the leg and once in the ear. 

At the time, he had been released from the hospital.

“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,” he said on Monday outside Johannesburg Magistrates Court.

He said he has struggled to move freely in the area since the incident.

“I am even scared to go outside because of that incident. We are scared that something might happen to me again,” he said.

He alleged that the shooting was orchestrated by the leader of the “Fast Guns” gang.

“He sent the younger boys to shoot us because he does not like us,” the teenager said.

He claimed that the alleged mastermind, who has since been arrested, lived on the same street where the shooting occurred.

“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 said.

The teenager insisted that he was not involved in gang activity.

Earlier on Monday, a 36-year-old man believed to be the mastermind behind the mass shooting made his first appearance in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court.

Gauteng police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili said the suspect was arrested in the Westbury area on Friday.

Two teenagers were killed in a hail of bullets on Croesus Street on October 21, 2025. 

The victims were identified as 18-year-old Tigan du Plessis and 17-year-old Diegan Ryters.

Police said seven teenagers, aged between 13 and 19, were approached on foot by four suspects. 

Gunfire erupted, killing two at the scene. The other five were taken to the hospital.

The suspect faces two counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder.

Police have also arrested a 20-year-old in connection with the shooting. 

He was arrested at a high school in Diepkloof and appeared in court on Friday. 

His bail application is expected to be heard on Thursday.

Muridili said investigations are ongoing to track down the remaining suspects. 

She confirmed that two of the five injured victims have been discharged from hospital.

Meanwhile, the court has postponed the case of the alleged mastermind to Thursday. He is expected to appear with the first suspect for a formal bail application.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

IOL News