Key facts
- Twelve people were killed and nine injured in a mass shooting in Johannesburg.
- The attack occurred in the Cleveland informal settlement, east of Johannesburg.
- Suspects arrived in a minibus and fired on residents at multiple locations.
- Authorities have launched a manhunt for the suspects.
- The incident has drawn attention to South Africa's struggle with violent crime and illegal mining.
A deadly overnight attack in Johannesburg has once again drawn attention to South Africa's struggle with violent crime, after multiple gunmen opened fire in a densely populated settlement, killing 12 people and injuring nine others. Authorities have launched a major manhunt for the suspects, who remain at large, while investigators work to determine what motivated one of the city's deadliest shootings in recent months.
The attack unfolded in Cleveland, a suburb east of Johannesburg that has previously been linked to illegal mining activity and organized criminal networks. According to police, a group of armed assailants arrived in the area late Tuesday night before carrying out a coordinated shooting across multiple locations. By the time emergency responders arrived, numerous victims had already succumbed to their injuries.
South African police say the attackers traveled to the settlement in a minibus before moving through the community and firing on residents at several points. The victims included nine men and three women. Eleven people were pronounced dead at the scene, while a twelfth victim later died in hospital.