Gunmen kill 12 in Johannesburg informal settlement, nine others wounded
More than ten armed suspects opened fire at the Jumpers informal settlement in Cleveland, east of Johannesburg, late Tuesday night, killing 12 people and injuring nine before fleeing in a minibus.
The attack
A group of more than ten armed men attacked the Jumpers informal settlement in the Cleveland area, east of Johannesburg, shortly after 23:00 on Tuesday night. The suspects arrived in a white Toyota Quantum minibus, which dropped them off near a petrol station in Cleveland.
The first investigations reveal that 12 people died as a result of this attack.
The attackers entered the settlement through two access points and moved through the area, opening fire on residents at multiple locations. After the shooting, they fled the scene in the same white Toyota Quantum. Police have launched a large-scale manhunt for the suspects.
Casualties
Twelve people were killed in the attack, according to police statements. Nine others were injured and are receiving medical attention. The victims were residents and community members of the informal settlement.
Investigation and motive
South African police have begun a manhunt for more than ten suspects. The motive for the attack remains unknown, and authorities have not yet established what prompted the gunmen to target the settlement. No arrests have been reported as of Wednesday morning.
Context
South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world, with an average of around 60 people killed daily. The attack in Cleveland adds to the country's persistent violent crime challenges, though police have not linked this incident to any broader pattern or organised criminal activity.
