By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
SA Police Services (SAPS) confirmed twelve people have been killed and nine others wounded following a mass shooting at Jumpers Informal Settlement in Cleveland, Johannesburg.
According to police, they responded to a “complaint of shooting in progress” at about 23:10 on Tuesday night.
Emergency medical services were also deployed to treat the injured.
Police said eight men and three women died at the scene, while an additional man died from his injuries in hospital.
At least nine others were taken to various medical facilities for treatment of gunshot wounds.
“It is alleged that more than 10 suspects were dropped off by a white Toyota Quantum near a petrol station in Cleveland,” the police said in a statement.
“The suspects allegedly entered the informal settlement through both entrances and moved through the area, opening fire on residents and community members at multiple locations before fleeing the scene in the same vehicle,” the statement added.
Police said that “the motive for the attack is currently unknown and forms part of the ongoing investigation”.
The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has expressed its shock, outrage, and expressed deepest condolences.
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Dr Bandile Masuku, said preliminary reports indicate that gunmen stormed the informal settlements on Tuesday night and opened fire on residents indiscriminately before fleeing the scene.
“It is suspected that the attack may be linked to ongoing illegal mining activities in the area,” said Masuku.
“The Committee unequivocally condemns this barbaric act of violence and extends its heartfelt sympathies to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives, while wishing the injured a full and speedy recovery.”
He said the senseless loss of life was a reminder of the impact that organised crime and illegal mining still have on communities in Gauteng.
“The Committee is deeply disturbed that, despite sustained law enforcement interventions and the deployment of members of the South African National Defence Force to support efforts aimed at combating the scourge of illegal mining, criminal syndicates continue to operate with alarming levels of violence and impunity.”
The Committee believes that the persistence of such brutal attacks demands an urgent reassessment of current interventions and a more coordinated, intelligence-driven approach involving all law enforcement agencies to dismantle the criminal networks behind illegal mining and associated violent crimes.
“The Committee calls on the South African Police Service to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that those responsible for this heinous crime are swiftly apprehended and brought to justice. Equally, the Committee urges communities to cooperate with law enforcement agencies by providing any information that may assist with the investigation.”
South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world, with around 60 people killed per day on average. Shootings in informal settlements are highly common in the country and are sometimes linked to gang violence and personal disputes.
This story has been updated with Gauteng Portfolio Committee statement.