12 Killed, Nine Injured as Gunmen Storm Johannesburg Settlement

At least 12 people were killed and nine others injured after a group of armed attackers opened fire in an informal settlement in the Cleveland suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa, police said on Wednesday.

According to authorities, more than 10 suspects arrived at the settlement in a minibus late Tuesday night before launching a coordinated attack on residents.

Police said the gunmen moved through different parts of the community, shooting at people before escaping in the same vehicle.

In a statement, police said the attackers “moved through the area, opening fire on residents and community members at multiple locations before fleeing the scene in the same vehicle.”

The victims included nine men and three women. Police confirmed that 11 people died at the scene, while another victim later succumbed to injuries in hospital.

Investigators have launched a manhunt for the suspects, but no arrests had been made as of Wednesday. Authorities also said the motive behind the attack remains unclear.

The latest killings add to a series of mass shootings that have rattled Johannesburg and other parts of South Africa in recent years. In December alone, two separate mass shootings left more than 20 people dead, with one of the incidents involving multiple gunmen.

While some previous attacks in and around Johannesburg have been linked to illegal mining gangs, police said it was too early to establish a connection in this case, despite Cleveland’s known links to illegal mining activities.

Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said law enforcement agencies had intensified efforts to identify and apprehend those responsible.

“Provincial and district detectives, supported by crime intelligence and forensic experts, have been mobilized to investigate the incident and track down the suspects,” Mathe said.

Police Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni condemned the attack, describing the perpetrators as “heartless,” but cautioned against drawing conclusions about the motive before investigations are completed.

“We are still investigating, but what we have seen here is a criminal act. We have deployed all required units,” Mthombeni said.

He added that crime intelligence officials had also been deployed to the area to support ongoing investigations.

Informal settlements in South Africa are typically unplanned communities made up largely of shacks and other temporary structures, often housing low-income residents.