The attack

A group of more than ten armed men attacked the Jumpers informal settlement in Cleveland, about six kilometres east of central Johannesburg, shortly after 23:00 local time on Tuesday 9 June. The suspects were dropped off by a white Toyota Quantum minibus near a petrol station and entered the settlement through two separate entrances, according to police. They moved through the area firing on residents at multiple locations. The gunfire lasted more than an hour, one resident told broadcaster eNCA. The attackers then fled in the same vehicle.

“The suspects reportedly entered the informal settlement through its two entrances and moved through the area, opening fire on residents and community members at several locations before fleeing in the same vehicle.”

Casualties

Eight men and three women died at the scene. A ninth man later succumbed to his injuries in hospital, bringing the death toll to twelve. At least nine other people were wounded and taken to various hospitals. One additional injured person was found on Wednesday morning. Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi confirmed the preliminary fatality count: nine males and three females.

“These attackers were heartless, cruel and, in a way, barbaric.”

Investigation and possible motive

No arrests have been made and a large-scale manhunt is underway. Gauteng provincial police chief Tommy Mthombeni described the crime as "barbaric, heartless and insane." Investigators are examining several leads. The settlement borders a legal mining area and lies near abandoned gold mines exploited by illegal miners known as "Zama Zamas." Police have not confirmed a direct link but said the proximity to illegal mining activity is a key line of inquiry. Residents told the BBC they suspect the shooting is connected to turf wars among groups involved in illegal gold extraction. Three weeks earlier, officers had discovered weapons and around a thousand rounds of ammunition in the vicinity during an operation.

“At this stage we have not yet been able to establish the motive. This place borders a legal mining area. We have our suspicions.”

Illegal mining context

Illegal miners, or Zama Zamas, dig for gold remnants in old mines around Johannesburg, often working for organised criminal syndicates and spending extended periods underground. South African police have been intensifying efforts against illegal mining, though the task is extremely difficult. In early 2025, a large-scale police operation in the mining town of Stilfontein turned catastrophic when authorities blocked supply channels to miners underground, trapping men in the shaft for two months. Residents of the Cleveland settlement said they had repeatedly warned authorities about escalating violence and criminal activity in the area.

South Africa's violent crime

South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world. In 2024, police recorded 26,232 intentional homicides in the country of roughly 65 million people — about 72 per day. Shootings in informal settlements are reportedly frequent, often driven by rivalries between criminal gangs. The country also has a large number of legal and illegal firearms in circulation.