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- Leonard, 14, was recruited by a matric pupil after being bullied to scout for valuables at funerals for gang leaders.
- Scouts report on cars, food, coffins and clothing at funerals. Gang leaders rob homes at night using this information.
Gang leaders in Westbury are recruiting teenage boys to scout at funerals and paying them R150.
Leonard, 14, was recruited in early 2025 by a matric pupil. The Grade 9 learner said he was subjected to daily beatings from his bully.
“I had no choice but to agree because he would also come to my home and take whatever he wants,” Leonard said.
Leonard’s mother Chantel said gang leaders target grieving families by sending two young boys to check which cars are being driven to visit bereaved families, the kind of food they eat, the type of coffin and what mourners are wearing.
“Then the scouts report back to the gang leaders. At night they rob everyone in the house,” Chantel said.
She said poverty has delivered the future of the country to crime and hunger has divided the community.
“We are stealing from each other literally,” she said.
Leonard said boys without a father, brother or uncle become easy targets for gang leaders.
“If you don’t have a father, brother or uncle the gang leaders will pick you to be a runner and deliver messages, drugs or guns to others,” Leonard said.
“You are also recruited as a scout at funerals in the community,” he said.
Chantel said weddings and birthday parties are very rare for the community of Westbury because of the increasing crime rate.
Bishop Marcus began a boys group in Westbury. Teenage boys are introduced to character development workshops and share a daily meal.
“This is a lost generation. Young people don’t have dreams or aspirations. This means they are walking dead,” Bishop Marcus said.
Leonard was introduced into a life of crime before he could even choose his school subjects.
Note: Names have been changed to protect identities.
Pictured above: Westbury.
Image source: Johannesburg Development Agency
