JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — At least 12 people have been killed and nine others injured after gunmen opened fire in an informal settlement in Johannesburg, prompting a major police manhunt.
Okay News reports that the attack occurred late Tuesday night in the Cleveland area of Johannesburg. South African police said more than 10 armed suspects allegedly arrived in a white Toyota Quantum vehicle before entering the settlement through multiple access points and shooting at residents at different locations.
According to authorities, police officers responded to reports of an ongoing shooting at about 11:10 p.m. local time, while emergency medical personnel were deployed to assist victims. Eight men and three women were pronounced dead at the scene, while another victim later died in hospital. At least nine people who sustained gunshot wounds were taken to various medical facilities for treatment.
Investigators said the motive for the attack remains unknown and forms part of an ongoing investigation. Police have launched a search operation to identify and apprehend those responsible for the killings.
The latest incident adds to concerns over violent crime in South Africa, which records one of the highest homicide rates globally. Mass shootings in informal settlements have become a recurring challenge, often linked to gang activity, criminal disputes and other local conflicts, although authorities have not established any connection in the Cleveland attack.
