At least 12 people lost their lives and nine others were injured on Tuesday evening after gunmen opened fire at the Jumpers informal settlement in Cleveland, east of Johannesburg, police confirmed on Wednesday.
Authorities said they have launched a manhunt for more than 10 suspects involved in the attack.
How the attack unfolded
According to police statements reported by Reuters, the attackers arrived in a white Toyota Quantum. They reportedly entered the settlement from two different access points and opened fire at multiple locations inside the area before fleeing in the same vehicle.
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Informal settlements in South Africa are unplanned residential areas, typically made up of makeshift housing structures.
Victims and emergency response
Officials, as cited by Sky News, said officers discovered several victims at the scene with multiple gunshot wounds. Eight men and three women were declared dead on site, while another man later died in hospital due to his injuries.
The nine injured victims were rushed to nearby medical facilities for treatment.
Investigation underway, motive unclear
Police said the motive behind the attack remains unknown at this stage. A full investigation has been launched as authorities continue searching for the suspects.
South Africa’s ongoing violence challenge
South Africa continues to face extremely high levels of violent crime, recording one of the highest murder rates in the world, around 60 killings per day on average.
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The country has also seen several high-profile mass shootings in recent months, including two incidents in December that together left more than 20 people dead.
Some of these attacks have been linked to illegal mining gangs operating in and around Johannesburg, and Cleveland is known to be associated with such activity, though no direct link has been confirmed in this case.
First published on: Jun 10, 2026 11:53 AM IST
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