12 Killed, 9 Injured as Armed Gang Opens Fire in Johannesburg Informal Settlement

A mass shooting in an informal settlement in Johannesburg, South Africa , has left 12 people dead and at least nine others injured after an armed gang opened fire on residents before fleeing the scene in a vehicle, police said.

The attack took place late Tuesday night in the Cleveland suburb, where at least 10 armed attackers reportedly moved through the impoverished neighbourhood, opening fire at multiple locations within the settlement. According to police, 11 victims died at the scene while one more succumbed to injuries in hospital.

The victims include nine men and three women , authorities confirmed. The attackers are believed to have escaped in a minibus , which is now the focus of a nationwide manhunt. No arrests have been made so far.

Police have described the incident as part of an ongoing investigation and have not yet confirmed a motive. However, officials acknowledged that the area is known for illegal mining activity and organised criminal networks , which frequently operate in and around abandoned mine sites across South Africa’s largest city, Johannesburg.

Provincial police officials called the killings “heartless and barbaric” , while confirming that forensic teams and tactical response units have been deployed to the scene. Authorities are prioritising the tracing of the getaway vehicle as the investigation continues.

The Cleveland settlement, like many informal communities around Johannesburg, is characterised by overcrowding, poverty, and limited state presence , conditions that have allowed organised criminal groups to operate with relative impunity. Residents said the area has long struggled with safety concerns linked to illegal mining gangs and local turf conflicts.

The tragedy adds to South Africa’s persistent problem of violent crime, with the country recording thousands of murders annually , and several recent high-profile mass shootings linked to gang activity.

Officials have urged calm as investigations continue into one of the deadliest incidents in the region in recent months.