Authorities in South Africa have initiated a manhunt following a tragic mass shooting that claimed the lives of 12 individuals in the Jumpers Informal Settlement located in Cleveland late Tuesday night.
Reports indicate that at least 10 armed suspects, equipped with rifles, invaded the settlement, indiscriminately firing at residents before escaping in a white vehicle.
The police described the incident as a “heartless” and “barbaric” act, with an additional nine people sustaining injuries during the attack.
Local residents suspect that the violence may be tied to ongoing turf disputes among groups of illegal miners in the area.
Illegal mining activities have surged in South Africa, contributing to one of the highest murder rates globally.
Incidents of gun violence in informal settlements are not uncommon, often associated with gang conflicts and personal vendettas.
The local police responded to reports of gunfire around 23:10 local time (21:10 GMT) on Tuesday.
According to police statements, more than 10 suspects were dropped off by a white Toyota Quantum near a gas station in Cleveland.
They allegedly accessed the settlement through multiple entrances, firing upon community members at various locations before fleeing the scene in the same vehicle.
Tragically, eight men and three women were pronounced dead at the site, while another man succumbed to his injuries at a hospital.
At least nine others were transported to medical facilities for treatment of gunshot wounds.
The motive behind this brutal attack remains unclear and is currently under investigation.
During a visit to the crime scene on Wednesday, provincial police commissioner Lt Gen Tommy Mthombeni reiterated that while the motive is still being determined, connections to illegal mining cannot be dismissed.
”This area is adjacent to illegal mining operations, and we have those suspicions,” Mthombeni stated, labeling the assault as “heartless” and “barbaric.”
Illegal mining has become a lucrative yet dangerous informal industry, with groups targeting abandoned gold mines and selling their discoveries on the black market.
The situation has escalated to such an extent that earlier this year, President Cyril Ramaphosa deployed military forces to certain communities to help shut down these operations.
This incident follows a previous mass shooting last year in which nine people lost their lives at a tavern in Johannesburg.
According to statistics from Gideon Joubert of the South African Gunowners’ Association, there are approximately three million legally owned firearms in South Africa, with an estimated equal number of unlicensed weapons in circulation.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong