Mass shooting in South Africa kills 12

A mass shooting in Johannesburg's Cleveland suburb has left at least 12 people dead and 9 injured, according to Reuters. The attack took place in the Jumpers informal settlement on Sunday night, June 9, when over 10 suspects arrived in a white Toyota Quantum van.

South African Police Service (SAPS) reported that the suspects entered the settlement from two entrances, moving through the area and firing at multiple locations before fleeing in the same vehicle. The victims included 8 men and 3 women who died at the scene, with another male victim succumbing to his injuries after being hospitalized. The injured were also taken to the hospital for treatment.

Police have mobilized various units, including criminal intelligence and forensic experts, to investigate the incident and apprehend the suspects. The motive behind the shooting has not yet been determined, as reported by ABC News. Informal settlements in South Africa are often spontaneous communities consisting of shacks or temporary structures.

South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates globally, averaging around 60 murders daily. This latest incident occurred about 6 kilometers east of Johannesburg's city center, near an abandoned gold mine. In December 2025, a similar shooting related to gold mine disputes resulted in 9 deaths in a bar in the Bekkersdal township.