‘HEARTLESS’ AND ‘BARBARIC’ CLEVELAND SHOOTING LEAVES 12 DEAD!
South Africa has once again been shaken by a deadly mass shooting after 12 people were killed and nine others wounded during a brazen attack at the Jumpers informal settlement in Cleveland, east of Johannesburg, on Tuesday night.
According to police, a group of more than 10 armed suspects arrived at the settlement in a white Toyota Quantum before splitting up and entering the area through multiple access points.
The gunmen allegedly opened fire indiscriminately on residents at several locations before fleeing the scene in the same vehicle.
Emergency Medical Services rushed to the settlement shortly after reports of gunfire were received.
Preliminary investigations revealed that eight men and three women died at the scene, while another male victim later succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
Nine other victims remain in medical care after sustaining gunshot wounds.
Gauteng Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni described the attack as “heartless” and “barbaric” during a visit to the scene on Wednesday morning.
He confirmed that a large-scale manhunt is underway and that specialised police units, including crime intelligence officers, forensic experts and Tactical Response Teams, have been deployed to track down those responsible.
While investigators have not yet established a motive, authorities are exploring possible links to illegal mining activities in the area.
Cleveland and surrounding communities have long been associated with illegal mining operations and organised criminal networks.
Police recently conducted operations in the area, recovering large quantities of ammunition and arresting several suspects linked to illegal activities.
The Gauteng Provincial Government has condemned the killings, describing them as a direct attack on community safety and calling for a swift and thorough investigation.
Community leaders have meanwhile appealed for calm as residents struggle to come to terms with one of the province’s deadliest shooting incidents in recent months.
No arrests had been made at the time of publication.
Police have urged anyone with information that could assist the investigation to contact Crime Stop or use the MySAPS mobile application anonymously.