A late-night shooting attack near Johannesburg has left 12 people dead, adding to growing concerns over violent crime in South Africa.
Police said heavily armed assailants stormed an informal settlement in the Cleveland area, east of Johannesburg’s city centre, shortly after 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday and opened fire on residents at multiple locations before fleeing.
According to police, more than 10 suspects arrived in a vehicle before entering the settlement through different access points and carrying out the coordinated attack.
A police spokesperson said the gunmen moved through the community, firing indiscriminately before escaping in the same vehicle used to transport them to the area.
“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.”
Authorities confirmed that 12 people died as a result of the shooting.
Police spokesperson Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said eight men and three women were pronounced dead at the scene, while another victim later died in hospital from injuries sustained during the attack.
“Preliminary investigations reveal that 12 people died as a result of the attack.”
The incident occurred in Cleveland, located approximately six kilometres east of central Johannesburg.
Investigation Underway
Law enforcement officials have launched an investigation into the killings, although no arrests had been made as of Wednesday.
Authorities said the motive behind the attack remains unclear and investigators are working to determine the circumstances that led to the violence.
The shooting marks another mass casualty incident in South Africa, a country that continues to grapple with high levels of violent crime.
Rising Concerns Over Gun Violence
South Africa records one of the highest homicide rates globally, with more than 60 murders reported on average each day.
Experts have frequently linked recurring shootings to the widespread availability of both legal and illegal firearms, as well as gang-related conflicts, territorial disputes, and competition among informal businesses.
The latest attack is likely to intensify concerns over public safety and gun violence, particularly in vulnerable communities where criminal activity remains a persistent challenge.
Police have urged anyone with information that could assist the investigation to come forward.
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