by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (Worthy News) – At least 12 people were killed, and nine others wounded after heavily armed gunmen opened fire in an informal settlement near Johannesburg, South African police said.
The attack occurred late Tuesday at the Jumpers informal settlement in Cleveland, east of Johannesburg, where more than 10 suspects reportedly entered the area through multiple access points and opened fire on residents before fleeing in a vehicle.
Police said eight men and three women died at the scene, while another man later succumbed to his injuries in hospital. At least nine other victims were transported to medical facilities for treatment.
A manhunt was underway Wednesday, and no arrests had been reported.
ILLEGAL MINING SUSPECTED
The motive remained under investigation, though local community leaders suggested the killings could be linked to rival illegal mining groups operating in and around Johannesburg.
“This place is very dangerous,” one community leader told local media. “It’s really painful that people were killed like dogs.”
The Cleveland area has long been associated with illegal mining activity, which has fueled violent disputes among criminal groups competing for control of lucrative operations.
The massacre is the latest in a series of deadly shootings that have heightened concerns about violent crime in South Africa.
RECENT MASS SHOOTINGS
In May, two people were shot dead in the Zamimpilo informal settlement in Riverlea, south of Johannesburg, where tensions have also been linked to criminal activity and illegal mining.
In December, nine people were killed outside a bar in Bekkersdal, a township near major gold mining areas west of Johannesburg.
That same month, 12 people died when gunmen attacked a bar inside a hostel in Saulsville near the South African capital, Pretoria. Authorities said multiple attackers were involved in both incidents.
South Africa has one of the world’s highest violent-crime rates, with mass shootings frequently linked to gangs, organized crime, and disputes over control of illegal mining operations.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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