Johannesburg mass shooting leaves 12 dead in Cleveland informal settlement, police say

Police in Johannesburg are investigating a mass shooting in the Cleveland informal settlement that left 12 people dead and at least nine injured. Officers said at least 10 attackers moved through the area firing at residents before fleeing in a minibus. No arrests have been made, and police are examining possible links to organised crime and illegal mining.

Police said an armed group shot dead 12 people in a poor area of Johannesburg and injured at least nine others. The attackers later escaped in a minibus, according to a police statement on Wednesday. The shooting happened late on Tuesday night in an informal settlement in Cleveland, a suburb of the city.

Police said at least 10 shooters moved through the settlement and fired at several spots. Nine men and three women died in the attack. Eleven victims died at the scene, and one person later died in hospital. Officers said no arrests had been made, and a search was under way.

Johannesburg shooting investigation targets suspects and minibus

Acting national police commissioner Puleng Dimpane said forensic teams and tactical units were sent to the area. "Tracing the white minibus is a priority,\" Dimpane said. Police said the motive was not yet known, and the case remained under investigation. Investigators also continued to look for the suspects’ vehicle.

Provincial police commissioner Tommy Mthombeni condemned the killings as insane, heartless and, to a certain extent, barbaric. Mthombeni said police were not yet linking the attack to illegal mining gangs. Mthombeni added that officers were checking that possibility while reviewing other leads linked to organised crime.

Mthombeni said police recently seized illegal firearms in the same area. The haul included assault rifles, according to police. Mthombeni also said illegal miners were known to operate in and around the settlement. Police said organised crime groups have competed for control of illegal mining and other activities in Johannesburg.

Johannesburg shooting adds to fears over illegal mining gangs

Residents gathered in small groups on Wednesday morning as ambulances removed bodies. Some people said stray bullets struck their homes during the gunfire. Resident Nkosinathi Phatha said an uncle was among those killed. \"I was sleeping at home with my daughter, but we all woke up when the gunshots started going off,\" Phatha said.

\"Im still shaking even now, my young girl is still traumatised.\" Phatha said the settlement struggled with illegal miners and limited police support. \"This area is not safe... The police are not doing anything about it, and we will get into trouble if we start taking the law into our own hands,\" said Phatha.

Informal settlements are common near major South African cities. Many residents live in shacks and other temporary structures while seeking stable housing. Police and local accounts said illegal miners sometimes work in these same spaces. The miners often use the settlements because they are close to abandoned mine sites.

Johannesburg has large gold reserves and many abandoned mines. Violent groups search these old shafts for remaining gold deposits, according to officials and local reports. Police said gangs sometimes keep gold in hideouts inside informal settlements. Rival groups can also fight over territory or use violence to control communities.

Johannesburg shooting occurs amid broader South Africa crime pressure

South Africa recorded more than 23,000 killings in the last financial year, official crime figures showed. That equals an average of more than 60 deaths each day. The country has also faced several recent mass shootings. Two attacks in December left more than 20 people dead, and one involved multiple shooters.

The government deployed the army in March to high-risk areas, including around Johannesburg. Officials said the year-long mission aimed to curb illegal mines run by criminal syndicates and other organised crime. Opposition lawmakers and some analysts criticised the move. They said it suggested police were struggling against organised crime.

Local politician Jack Bloom said the area had seen violence before, but this case stood out. \"This was basically a massacre. Its horrifying,\" Bloom said. Local council member Neuren Pietersen said illegal mining gangs had links to Cleveland. \"There are a lot of moving parts here so its hard to pinpoint exactly what is driving the issues,\" Pietersen said.

Police said the search continued for those responsible for the Johannesburg killings and the minibus used to escape. Investigators were still working to confirm a motive and identify all attackers. Officials said the case remained active, with forensic work and tactical support ongoing. Residents in Cleveland stayed on edge as police increased operations.

With inputs from PTI