12 Killed in Mass Shooting in Johannesburg, Police Say

At least 12 people have been killed and nine others injured in a mass shooting at an informal settlement in Cleveland, Johannesburg, South African police have confirmed.

The attack occurred late on Tuesday when more than 10 suspects were dropped off near a petrol station in Cleveland by a white Toyota Quantum minibus, according to a police statement. The gunmen 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 in the same vehicle.

Police officers responded to reports of a shooting in progress at approximately 23:10 local time. Emergency medical services were deployed to treat the injured. Eight men and three women were pronounced dead at the scene, while an additional man later died from his injuries in hospital. At least nine others were taken to various medical facilities for treatment of gunshot wounds.

“The motive for the attack is currently unknown and forms part of the ongoing investigation,” the police statement said. A manhunt for the suspects is underway.

The massacre underscores the scale of South Africa’s violent crime crisis. The country records approximately 60 murders per day on average, giving it one of the highest homicide rates in the world. Shootings in informal settlements are distressingly common and are frequently linked to gang activity, territorial disputes, and personal vendettas.

The incident follows a pattern of mass shootings that have plagued Johannesburg’s most vulnerable communities. Last year, nine people were killed in a mass shooting at a tavern in the city. There are approximately three million legally held firearms in South Africa, with at least the same number of unlicensed weapons estimated to be in circulation, according to statistics cited by the South African Gunowners’ Association.

The Cleveland shooting is likely to intensify calls for stronger gun control measures and greater police visibility in informal settlements, where residents often live in densely packed conditions with limited access to security infrastructure. Authorities have urged anyone with information about the attack to come forward.

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