No fewer than 12 people have been killed and at least nine others injured after heavily armed gunmen attacked an informal settlement in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The deadly attack occurred at about 11:10 p.m. on Tuesday at the Jumpers Informal Settlement in Cleveland, a suburb of Johannesburg, according to South African police.
Police said more than ten armed men stormed the settlement in a white Toyota Quantum vehicle and entered the area through multiple access points before opening fire on residents.
Among those killed were nine men and three women, while several others sustained gunshot wounds and were taken away for medical treatment.
The attackers reportedly fled the scene in the same vehicle after carrying out the assault.
A resident who spoke to South African broadcaster eNCA said the gunfire lasted for more than an hour, expressing concern over the increasing frequency of violent attacks in and around the settlement.
Authorities have launched a manhunt for the suspects, but no arrests had been made as of the time of filing this report.
Police said the motive behind the attack remained unclear and forms part of an ongoing investigation.
South Africa continued to grapple with high levels of gun violence. According to Gun Free South Africa, a non-governmental organisation advocating for reduced gun violence, an average of 33 people are shot dead daily across the country.
The organisation also estimated that about three million firearms were legally registered to South African citizens, while approximately 24 guns were reported lost or stolen every day.
Under South Africa’s Firearms Control Act of 2000, citizens aged 21 and above may legally own a handgun or shotgun for self-defence, subject to competency certification and licensing requirements.
Informal settlements, which are often made up of makeshift structures and shacks, have frequently been scenes of violent crimes in South Africa. Such attacks are commonly linked to gang activities and illegal mining operations.
Cleveland, where the latest shooting occurred, has long been associated with illegal mining activities, raising concerns that organised criminal groups may have played a role in the attack.
