At least 12 people have been killed and nine others injured after multiple armed attackers carried out a late-night mass shooting in Johannesburg, South Africa, police confirmed on Wednesday, in the latest wave of deadly gun violence to hit the city.
According to police, more than 10 suspects were allegedly transported in a minibus to an informal settlement in the Cleveland suburb of Johannesburg on Tuesday night. Once they arrived, they reportedly opened fire on residents.
Authorities said South Africa has recently experienced a series of similar mass shootings, including two incidents in December that left more than 20 people dead. One of those attacks also involved several gunmen working together.
The Cleveland area, where Tuesday’s shooting occurred, has been linked to illegal mining activities, which security officials say are sometimes connected to violent criminal networks operating around Johannesburg.
A related video report highlighted broader insecurity in the city, including rising hijackings and armed robberies, with CNN’s David McKenzie riding along with private security operatives in Johannesburg as such crimes reach record levels.
Police said in a statement that the gunmen “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. Eleven people were declared dead at the scene, while another victim later died in hospital.
As of Wednesday, no arrests had been made, and police said the motive for the attack remained under investigation. Officers continued to search for the suspects.
Informal settlements in South Africa are unplanned residential communities, often made up of makeshift housing such as shacks.
“Provincial and district detectives, supported by crime intelligence and forensic experts, have been mobilized to investigate the incident and track down the suspects,” police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said.
Police commissioner Tommy Mthombeni described the attackers as “heartless” but said investigators were not yet ready to link the killings directly to illegal mining.
“We are still investigating, but what we have seen here is a criminal act. We have deployed all required units,” he said, adding that crime intelligence officials have also been deployed to the area.
