A mass shooting at the Jumpers Informal Settlement in Cleveland, east of Johannesburg, left 12 people dead and at least nine injured on Tuesday night, police said.
According to the Gauteng Police Service, more than ten armed suspects arrived in a white Toyota Quantum minibus at around 11 pm on Tuesday and entered the settlement from different directions before opening fire on residents, the statement read. The gunmen fled the scene after the attack.
The police report confirmed that nine men and three women were killed, while nine other people sustained injuries, the police said. Gauteng Police Commissioner Lt Gen Tommy Mthombeni visited the settlement later that night, according to the same source.
Police are investigating possible links to illegal mining activities in the area, but the motive for the attack remains unclear, the police statement added. No arrests have been made and a manhunt for the suspects is underway while forensic teams continue processing the crime scene.
Casualties by gender
| Gender | Killed | Injured |
|---|---|---|
| Men | 9 | – |
| Women | 3 | – |
| Unspecified | – | 9 |
The table shows that all confirmed deaths were male or female residents, while the injured persons were not identified by gender in the police release.
The incident has prompted a heightened police presence in the surrounding suburbs as investigators pursue leads. Forensic officers are collecting evidence from the scene, and the Gauteng Police Service has urged anyone with information to contact the police hotline.
The ongoing investigation will focus on establishing any connection between the shooting and illegal mining operations, while the manhunt for the armed suspects continues.
