12 people were killed in a mass shooting at Johannesburg’s Jumpers Informal Settlement in the suburb of Cleveland, prompting a police manhunt that is still underway.
The police statement said that at approximately 23:10 local time on Tuesday night, more than ten suspects carrying rifles entered the settlement, opened fire at multiple points and left the scene in a white Toyota Quantom, leaving 12 dead and nine injured. Eight of the fatalities were men and three were women; one additional man later died from his injuries in hospital.
Officials described the incident as “heartless” and “barbaric,” noting that the motive for the attack is still under investigation and that investigators cannot rule out a link to the ongoing turf war among illegal mining groups that operate nearby.
Illegal mining has surged in South Africa, a country that ranks among the world’s most violent, with an estimated 3 million legally owned firearms and an equal number of weapons circulated without a license. The trade in illicit gold and other minerals has frequently led to violent confrontations, and the government has sometimes called in military forces to curb the activity.
Police continue to follow all possible leads in the search for the armed suspects. Lt. Gen. Tommy Mthombeni, provincial police commissioner, reiterated that the incident’s motive remains uncertain, while expressing concern that the shooting may be related to the illegal mining sector.
The tragedy highlights South Africa’s persistent challenges with gun violence, informal settlements, and the underground mining economy, underscoring the urgency of law‑enforcement measures to protect vulnerable communities.
