South Africa hunts suspects after mass shooting kills 12 people

South African security forces have launched a manhunt for at least 10 suspects believed to be responsible for a mass shooting that killed 12 people in the Jumpers Informal Settlement, east of Johannesburg. The densely populated area was targeted on Tuesday by assailants who opened fire on residents.

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As you know, this area is adjacent to the illegal mining area. We are having those suspicions

While police are investigating, residents have linked the attack to ongoing conflicts over control of mining areas between illegal mining gangs. Police Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni acknowledged this possibility, noting the settlement's proximity to illegal mining zones makes it susceptible to violence from rival groups. These groups, known locally as "zama zamas," often operate as heavily armed criminal networks involved in turf wars and extortion.

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heartless

Eleven of the victims, nine men and three women, died at the scene, with the twelfth succumbing to injuries in the hospital. Police reported that the attackers arrived in a white Toyota Quantum, split into groups, and fired on residents at multiple locations before fleeing. Commissioner Mthombeni described the attack as "heartless" and "barbaric."

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barbaric

This incident is the latest in a disturbing trend of mass shootings in South Africa. Last December, 11 people were killed in a similar attack at a hostel in Pretoria, and nine people died in a pub shooting in Bekkersdal weeks later. South Africa grapples with one of the highest homicide rates globally, with illegal mining activities frequently fueling violent clashes.

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The attackers moved through the area, opening fire on residents and community members at multiple locations before fleeing the scene in the same vehicle