12 killed as gunmen attack Johannesburg settlement

At least 12 people have been killed after heavily armed gunmen launched a deadly attack on an informal settlement near Johannesburg, South African police said on Wednesday.

The late-night assault occurred in Cleveland, a settlement located about six kilometres east of Johannesburg’s city centre, adding to growing concerns over violent crime in the country.

According to police, the attackers arrived in a vehicle shortly after 11 p.m. on Tuesday and stormed the community from multiple entry points before opening fire indiscriminately on residents.

Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said preliminary investigations showed that more than 10 armed suspects were involved in the attack.

“The suspects 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 the scene in the same vehicle,” she said.

Authorities confirmed that 11 victims died at the scene, while another later succumbed to injuries in hospital.

Among those killed were eight men and three women, according to police.

Security agencies have launched an investigation into the incident, although the motive behind the killings remains unclear.

No arrests had been made as of Wednesday, police said.

The latest bloodshed underscores South Africa’s continuing struggle with violent crime. The country records an average of more than 60 murders daily and remains plagued by the widespread availability of both legal and illegal firearms.

Mass shootings have become a recurring feature of South Africa’s crime landscape, often linked to gang conflicts, territorial disputes and competition among informal business operators.

Police said investigations were ongoing to identify and apprehend those responsible for the attack.